^'; 


THE   UNIVERSITY 
OF  ILLINOIS  i^^f^;:; 
LIBRARY 

315. ZS 

D      1   '^^     VN/ 

^  I 

Vo|,-^ 


s^. :?  i  ^5.. 


^^e  person  ch^.r.- 

sponsible  for  ,>c^'"^  ^his  mafeW.i  • 

which  if  ^^  return  to  y-f!    ,  l   ^^^  ^s  re- 

'"'est  Oar;!,"'""'--'-"  o^o  "^.Z-^-  f™™ 

"«»  '^nev.  co;,  Telephone  r  '""'    ''»•" 


No.  VI. 


THE 


liitcl)a*ttft  P^lttfion 


IN 


NEW  ENGLAND: 


ITS 


Rise,  Progress,  and  Termination, 

AS  EXHIBITED  BY 

Dr.  cotton  MATHER, 

IN 

THE  WONDERS  OF  THE  INVISIBLE  WORLD ; 

AND  BY 

Mr.  ROBERT  CALEF, 

IN  HIS 

MORE  WONDERS  OF  THE  INVISIBLE  WORLD. 

WITH  A 

iitcface,  IntrotTUCtiott,   antr   Notes, 

By  SAMUEL  G.  DRAKE. 
IN  THREE  VOLUMES. 

VOL.  II. 

More  Wonders  of  the  Invijible  World. 


PRINTED  FOR  W.  ELLIOT  WOODWARD, 

ROXBURY,  MASS. 

MDCCgLXVI. 


No.. 


Entered  according  to  A&.  of  Congrefs  in  the  Year  1865, 

By  SAMUEL  G.  DRAKE, 

in  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  Diftridl  Court  of  the  United  States 

for  the  Diftria  of  Maflachufetts. 


Edition  in  this  size  280  Copies. 


MuNSELL,  Printer. 


"S  2r 

vi  ... 


PREFATORY, 


BY  THE  EDITOR. 


Y  Object  in  this  Edition 
of  Mr.  Calef's  Work  is 
fimilar  to  that  in  Dr. 
Mather's  in  the  preceding 
Volume,  namely,  to  give 
a  perfectly  accurate  Re- 
print of  the  Work;  fo  that  whoever  has 
Occafion  to  ufe  or  confult  it  may  do  fo 
with  entire  Confidence.  I  have  there- 
fore reprinted  the  original  Edition  of 
1700,  with  fuch  Notes  as  was  judged 
might  be  ufeful  to  a  certain  Clafs  of 
Readers.  And  having  mentioned  the 
Notes,  I  will  fay  of  them  here  all  I 
have  to  fay  about  them.  There  may  be 
thofe  who  have  no  need  of  fuch  Addi- 
tions.     They  can  pafs  them  by  unheeded ; 


vi  Prefatory^ 

but  it  was  thought  generally  that  a  few  Ex- 
planations and  Additions  would  be  a  Help 
to  the  Party  confulting  the  Work.  They 
have  been  made  as  brief  as  was  thought 
confiftent  with  the  Subjedt. 

With  refped:  to  the  original  Text,  it  is 
given  as  exactly  like  the  Original  as  a 
much  better  Type  can  be  made  to  imitate 
an  old  Type  of  i66  Years  ago.  As  to 
retaining  all  the  Errors  in  the  original 
Edition,  it  was  thought  incompatible  with 
the  general  good  Tafte  of  the  Age. 
Some,  of  a  peculiar  Nature,  if  judged 
neceflary  to  £how  a  Peculiarity  of  the 
Times,  may  have  been  retained,  and 
noted  for  fuch  Peculiarity ;  but  a  broken 
or  imperfed:  Letter  is  difcarded  as  un- 
worthy of  Imitation ;  fo  tranfpofed  or 
inverted  Letters  are  fet  right,  as  any  good 
proof  Reader  would  have  done,  had  he 
noticed  them  in  the  Original  \  but  the 
Orthography  of  that  Day  is  fcrupuloufly 
retained. 

Why  there  was  no  Edition  of  the 
More  Wonders  of  the  Invijible  Worlds  for 


by  the  Editor.  vii 

ninety-fix  Years,  will  be  found  elfewhere 
explained.  The  Edition  of  1796  is  the  firft 
American  Edition.  This  bears  the  follow- 
ing Imprint:  "Printed  in  London  in  the 
Year  1700.  |  Reprinted  i7i  SALEM,  Majfa- 
chufetts,  1796,  I  By  WILLIAM  CARL- 
TON. I  Sold  at  Gushing  &  Carlton's 
Book  Store^  at  the  Bible  \  and  Hearty  EJfex- 
Street.''  The  Volume  is  in  Duodecimo, 
and  contains  318  Pages.  The  fecond 
Salem  Edition  is  in  the  lame  Form,  and 
contains  309  Pages,  exclulive  of  the  Arti- 
cle headed  "Giles  Gory,"  which  occupies 
three  Pages ;  hence  Copies  of  this  Edition 
contain  312  Pages.  Its  Imprint  —  all  in 
fmall  Capitals  —  is  thus:  "Printed  in 
London,  A.  D.  i/oo.  |  Reprinted  in  Sa- 
lem, by  John  D.  and  T.  G.  Gufhing,  Jr.  | 
for  Gufhing  and  Appleton.  1823."  The 
Publifhers  of  this  Edition  added  the  Arti- 
cle Giles  Cory^  at  the  Suggeftion  of  Mr. 
David  Pulsifer,  then  employed  in  the 
Office  where  the  Witchcraft  Records  were 
kept,    as    he   many  Years   ago    informed 


me. 


viii  Prefatory^ 

The  fecond  Salem  Edition  appears  to 
have  been  copied  from  the  firft  —  that  of 
1796.  In  fome  Inftances  flight  Depart- 
ures are  made  from  the  Copy;  and  in 
all  thefe,  fuch  Departures  are  alfo  De- 
partures from  the  Original.  As  late  as 
1796,  it  might  be  expelled  that  fome 
Uniformity  would  have  been  obferved,  as 
long  as  no  Exad:nefs  was  intended  in 
refped:  to  the  kind  of  Type  ufed  in 
reprinting  an  old  Work  —  Uniformity  in 
denoting  Quotations;  but  there  is  no 
Exad:nefs  in  this  refped:  in  either  Edition. 
In  the  firflj  as  will  be  feen,  fometimes 
Brackets  are  ufed  to  diftinguifh  Quotations, 
but  generally  italic  Type  is  employed  for 
that  Purpofe.  In  the  fecond,  inverted 
Commas  are  generally  ufed,  fometimes 
Brackets.  I  have  followed  the  Original, 
bracketing  and  italicifing  as  I  find  it. 
Inverted  Commas  to  denote  Extracts, 
Quotations  and  the  pofTeffive  Cafe  of 
Nouns  have  been  introduced  by  Writers 
and  Printers  mainly,  fince  the  Time  of 
Mr.  Calef 


by  the  Editor.  ix 

Nothing  appears  in  the  Book  to  (how 
whether  the  Author  fuperintended  the 
printing  of  it  or  otherwife.  He  may 
have  reiided  in  London  at  the  Time  of 
its  PubUcation,  although  there  are  fome 
Coniiderations  that  feem  to  lead  to 
the  Conclufion  that  it  may  have  paffed 
through  the  Prefs  without  his  Supervifion ; 
but,  as  before  obferved.  Nothing  is  known 
in  regard  to  it,  and  it  is  not  very  probable 
that  Anything  more  will  ever  come  to 
Light ;  yet  equally  ftrange  Things  as  that 
would  be,  have  happened. 

Taking  Liberties  with  old  Authors  is 

exceedingly  diftafteful  to  me,  even  where 

well  affured  that  an  Author  would  have 

gladly   made    a   Change   himfelf,    had    a 

Defedl    or    Deformity    been    noticed    by 

him ;   but  I  have  not  even  affumed  that 

Refponfibility  in    Mr.    Calef 's  Work.      I 

have  done  one  Thing  which  the  Student 

ought  to  thank  me   for,  though  he  may 

not.      I  have  placed   the  Headings  of  the 

different   Se6tions  at  the   Commencement 

of  thofe  Sections,  throughout  the  Work. 

B 


X  Prefatory^  by  the  Editor. 

In  the  original  Edition  thefe  were  omitted, 
probably  on  the  fcore  of  Economy.  They 
alfo  ftand  at  the  Commencement  of  the 
Book  (as  in  the  Original,)  entitled  "  In- 
dex." The  Benefit  to  the  Reader,  in 
reprinting  the  Captions  or  Contents  of  a 
Sedlion  or  Chapter  over  fuch  Sedlion  or 
Chapter  will  be  too  apparent  to  require 
Apology. 

The  Pagination  of  the  Original  is  Ex- 
actly retained ;  being  placed  at  the  top 
inner  Margin  in  Brackets,  and  in  the  Page 
where  the  original  Page  begins  and  ends, 
as  was  done  in  the  previous  Volume. 


\ 


I 


Robert  Calef,   probably  from  England,  fe 
Mafs.,  previous  to  1700;   rented  Lands  in   i 
is  ftyled   Clothier;    died   13th   April,   lyicf 
his  Grave-ftone  in  the  old  Burying-grounI 


Jofeph,  went  to  Ipf-  : 
wich     as    early    as 
1692;  a  Phyfician ; 
d.  28th  Dec,  1707, 
in  his  36th  Year. 


Mary  5  .  .  .  fhe    John,  liv-    Jererr.iah,  liv-     ROBERT,  (Author  of  Afors   Won-  , 
m.,  2dly,  Tho-    ing  1719      ing   1719.  dcrs,  &c.) ;    Merchant,   of  Boftonjf 


mas  Choate,  of 
Ipfwich. 


died  near  the  Clofe  of  1722,  or 
early  in  1723,  aged  about  45.  His 
Children  all  born  in  Bofton. 


Robert,  born  jixh. 
Dec,  1693,  had  a 
Grant  of  Mill-pri- 
vilege in  Ipfwich, 


lyiSi 


died    1 2th 


July,  1730. 


■■  Margaret, 
da.  of  Dea. 
John  Sta- 
niford  ;  d. 
7  th  O6I0- 
ber,  1727. 


Jofeph,  b.  20th 
May,  1695,  in 
Ipfwich.  Ad- 
miniftrator  on 
Eftate  of  his 
Grandfather. 


I 
Samuel, 

b.    25th 

January, 

1697;  d. 

Sept.lft, 

1720. 


Ebenezer. 


haps,  Phyfician,   , 
of  Charleftown,) 
d.  1 1  th  Oftober, 

1735- 


John,  b.  1725  ;  Phy-  =  Mary,  dau 


fician  of  great  Re- 
fpedlability  ;  a  Loyal- 
iftin  the  Revolution  ; 
d.  at  St.  Andrews, 
N.  B.,  1812. 


of  Nathan- 
iel Rogers, 
of  Ipfwich. 


I.  L  I    I  I 

Dfeph,     Joleph,      Sarah,      Peter,  bapt. 
'ingin      bapt.   3d     Mary,      26th  Odl., 


Jofeph,     Jofeph, 
livingin      bapt.   3d     Mary, 
1754.         of  May,     bothd.      1729,   died 

1724;  a     early.        1749. 

Leather- 

drelTer. 


Mary,  bapt.  23d 
April,  1732,  m. 
Stephen  White, 
in  Waltham, 
5th  June,  1758. 


P.J 

If 
ap 
m. 
w? 


John,  Capt.  of  a  Vef- 
fel ;  drowned  at  Plum 
Ifland  on  his  return 
Voyage  from  the  W. 
Indies,  1782. 


Margaret,  born 
15th  Oftober, 
1748  5  m.  Dr. 
Daniel  Scott, 
of  Bofton. 


Mary,    bapt. 


March, 


1750 


14th 
,   m. 


Capt.  John  Dutch, 
of  Ipfwich. 


I  I 

Thomas  Green,     Bethi: 

living  1740.  living 


i 


*  This  Pedigree  is  given  with  the  Hope  that   it  will  tend   to  intereft  fome   Defcendant   to  inveftiga 

of  the  Name,  and  has  here  thrown  together  fuch  Fa£ts  as  were  among  his  Memoranda,  chiefly  made  a 

■j-  Not  much  Confidence  is  felt  that  the  Family  given  to  this  Peter  is  the  corredl  one. 

j  This  y antes  may  not  be  the  one  mentioned  in  N.  Eng.  Hiji.  and  Gen,  Reg.,  xiv,  271  ;   but  is  fuppc 


t  of  OTalet* 


Roxbury,  =  Mary     died 


lefter,  1709; 
id  71,  as  by 
)xbury. 


November  12th,  17 19. 


argaret,  dau.  of  James 
rton,  of  Newton, 
d  Dec,  1699.  She 
d  before  17th  Sept., 
44- 


Martha,  m.  Solomon 
Hewes,  zSch  Septem- 
ber,  1700. 


Mary,  m.  Sam'l  Ste- 
vens, 9th  of  Odlober, 

1712. 


I 


Mary.     James,  b.  21ft  Dec, 
1702,  d.  young. 

James,  b.  24th  Feb., 
171 1-12,  d.  young. 

Robert,  b.  9th  Mar., 
17^4,  d.  young. 

papt. 

ibru- 

14-5. 
;Ed- 
ffin. 


Elizabeth,  b.  7th 
May,  1704,  liv- 
ing in  1722. 

Mary,  born  25th 
Jan.,  171 2-1  3, 
died  young. 


I  I 

Anne,    b.  Margaret,  b. 

7th  July,  4th  Odtober, 
1708,  m.  1710,  mar- 
Green,  li.  ried  Star,  li. 

1722.  1722. 


James,J    b. 
Nov.    1714, 


7th  = 
li. 


:  Abigail. 


1744,  but  not 
in  the  Province ; 
perhaps  the  Cap- 
tive of  1757. 


Samuel,  a  Cap- 
tive among  the 
Indians  with  his 
Father. 


'  I  I  I  1  i         i  ^1 

ten,      John  Green,      Mary  Green,     Rebeckah  Green,      Jafpar     Robert     Mary  Benjamin 

'  living  1740.      living   1740.     living  1740.  Star,  li.     Star,li.      Star,  Star,   li. 

1740.        1740.       living  1740. 
1740. 


Subjeft,  and  to  compofe  a  Genealogy  worthy  of  it.      The  Compiler  of  this  is  not  acquainted  with  any 
ears  ago. 


I  be  he. 


MEMOIR  OF  ROBERT  CALEF. 


HEN  any  Man  has  moral  Cou- 
rage enough  to  fpeak  plainly 
againft  any  Vices,  Follies,  or 
Superftitions  furrounding  him, 
he  muft  not  only  be  a  bold 
Man,  but  he  does  fo  regardlefs 

^ of  the  Coft ;  for  all  Experience 

teaches  that  whoever  undertakes  a  Reformation 
of  the  Kind  muft  experience  a  Fate  not  altogether 
unhke  him  who  waged  War  with  the  Philiftines. 
If  the  Reformer  efcapes  the  Fury  of  the  De- 
luded, and  lives  out  his  natural  Time,  he  often 
lofes  his  focial  ftanding ;  is  maligned,  fcofFed,  and 
fcorned  by  all  whom  he  expofed,  and  a  Multitude 
of  thofe  who  follow  them  as  their  Leaders  with- 
out knowing  wherefore.  It  is  much  the  fame 
now.  The  Reformer  or  Corrector  of  Opinion  is 
hilfed  and  ilandered  in  Proportion  to  the  Effort  he 
makes.  That  is  to  fay,  he  is  dealt  with  by  Soci- 
ety leniently  if  he  tells  the  Truth  with  a  Sort  of 
Provifo  ;  maintains  his  Pofition  without  Firmnefs, 
and  gains  but  few  Followers. 


xii  Memoir  of  Robert  Calef, 

Little  is  known  of  Robert  Calef,  afide  from 
his  fingle  Book,  and  what  his  Enemies  have 
thought  proper  to  fay  about  him  in  a  bitter  Spirit 
of  Detradiion.  He  was  certainly  a  Man  of  good 
Education ;  but  how  he  acquired  it,  where  and 
when,  no  Mention  is  found.  Dr.  Mather,  in  his 
Rejoinder  to  the  More  Wonders,  alTails  him  at 
every  Point ;  but  his  Attainments  in  Literature  he 
probably  viewed  as  not  vulnerable,  as  he  has 
made  no  Attack  on  that  Quarter.  It  is  true  he 
accufes  him  of  being  affifted  in  his  Labors,  but 
gives  no  Clue  by  which  fuch  Affiftance  may  be 
known. 

Notwithftanding  Mr.  Calef  had,  by  his  Inde- 
pendence in  freely  arraigning  the  abfurd  Proceed- 
ings againft  thofe  charged  with  imaginary  Crimes, 
he  was  not  without  fome  Popularity  in  Bofton, 
his  Place  of  Relidence,  at  the  Period  of  thofe 
Profecutions ;  for  in  the  Records  of  the  Town 
are  found  the  following  Entries  concerning  him  : 
April  1 6th,  1694,  "Mr.  Robert  Calfe  was  chofen 
Hayward  &  Fence-viewer,  in  the  Room  of  Mr. 
Edward  Wyllys,  who  refufed  to  ferve."  May 
1 2th,  1702,  he  was  added  to  the  Number  of  the 
Overfeers  of  the  Poor.  On  the  19th  of  April, 
1704,  Thanks  were  voted  him  for  his  Services  in 
that  Office.  On  March  12th,  1704-5,  it  was 
ordered  that  Mr.  Calef  be  not  charged  with  In- 
tereft  on  Moneys  remaining  in  his  Hands.  The 
next  Year,  March  loth,  1706-7,  he  was  chofen 
one  of  the  AfTefTors,  but  declined  the  Service. 


Memoir  of  Robert  Calef.  xiii 

The  Time  of  the  Emigration  of  the  Family 
of  Calef,  or  Calfe,  to  this  Country  has  not  been 
afcertained,  nor  has  there  been  publifhed  any 
confiderable  Memorial  of  it.  The  Name  is  an 
old  Englifh  one ;  and  were  Time  beftowed  upon 
it,  many  Items  might  doubtlefs  be  found  in  old  . 
Authors  of  Perfons  who  have  borne  it.  At  Pre- 
fent  but  a  Reference  or  two  muft  fuffice.  In 
the  Time  of  Henry  III  (121 6-1270,)  a  Sir  John 
Calfe  flouriflied,  on  whom  a  curious  Epitaph  may 
be  feen  in  Camden  s  Remains.  Another  John 
Calfe  has  an  Infcription  to  his  Memory  in  St. 
Nicholas's  Church,  London,  giving  1426  as  the 
Year  of  his  Deceafe. 

It  is  not  very  remarkable  that  fo  little  is  known 
of  Robert  Calef,  when  it  is  confidered  that  he 
had  almoft  the  entire  Community  againft  him. 
And  lefs  is  learned  about  him  than  might  be 
expected  in  the  Perufal  of  his  own  Book.  That 
his  Character  was  above  Reproach  is  evident  from 
the  Replies  of  Dr.  Mather  and  his  Friends,  to 
his  Queftions  refped:ing  the  Proofs  of  Witchcraft. 
It  helps  one's  Caufe  but  very  little,  merely  to  call 
his  Antagonift  "a  Lyar;"  and  this  appears  to  have 
been  the  heavieft  Argument  brought  againfl  Mr. 
Calef  in  Anfwer  to  his  Statements. 

In  Dr.  Mather's  Account  of  the  AffliBions  of 
Margaret  Rule,  he  thus  refers  to  thofe  who  differ 
from  him  ;  undoubtedly  having  fpecial  Reference 
to  Mr.  Calef:  "Yea,  to  do  like  Satan  himfelf,  by 
fly,  bafe  unpretending  Infinuations,  as  if  I  wore  not 


xiv  Memoir  of  Robert  Calef. 

the  Modefty  and  Gravity  which  became  a  Minifter 
of  the  Gofpel,  I  could  not  but  think  myfelf  un- 
kindly dealt  withal,  and  the  Negleds  of  others  to 
do  me  Juftice  in  this  Affair  has  caufed  me  to  con- 
clude this  Narrative  in  another  hearing  of  fuch 
monftrous  Injuries." 

By  "  another  hearing,"  is  meant  that  he  had  or 
would  take  legal  Steps  to  lilence  his  Opponent; 
for  about  the  fame  Time  the  Do6lor  was  fo  an- 
noyed by  certain  Queries  fent  him  by  Mr.  Calef, 
that  he  returned  him  Word  by  his  (Mr.  Calef's) 
Bearer,  that  he  would  have  him  arrefled  for  Slan- 
der, as  he  was  "  one  of  the  worft  of  Lyars."  This 
the  Dod:or  proclaimed  alfo  in  his  Pulpit.  Yet 
Mr.  Calef  was  always  refped;ful  in  his  Language 
in  return,  for  anything  that  appears  to  the  con- 
trary. 

On  the  29th  of  September,  1693,  ^^'  Calef 
addreffed  Dr.  Mather  a  Note,  requeiliing  that  he 
would  meet  him  at  either  of  the  Bookfellers, 
Richard  Wilkins  or  Benjamin  Harris.  Mr.  Calef 
delired  this  Meeting  that  they  might  examine 
together  the  Memoranda  of  what  he  had  noted 
after  vifiting  the  "poffelfed"  or  bewitched  Perfon, 
Margaret  Rule.  At  that  Vilit  were  alfo  both  the 
Doctors  Mather,  Father  and  Son.  Meantime  Mr. 
Calef  was  complained  of  and  taken  into  Cuftody, 
on  the  Charge  of  having  committed  a  fcandalous 
Libel  on  Mr.  Mather  the  younger ;  the  Com- 
plaint being  made  by  both.  Mr.  Calef  ftates 
that    he   did    not  remember    that    he   had   been 


Memoir  of  Robert  Calef.  xv 

charged  with  Untruth  in  his  Report  of  the  Ex- 
amination of  Margaret ;  but  it  was  allerted  that 
he  had  wronged  Dr.  Mather  by  his  Omiffions. 
To  which  Mr.  Calef  repHed,  that  he  had  reported 
only  what  he  faw  and  heard  himfelf. 

As  to  the  Profecution  for  Libel,  Mr.  Calef 
fays  he  was  taken  to  the  Court  of  Seffions,  and 
after  waiting  a  while  for  his  Accufers,  none  ap- 
peared. He  was  therefore  difmilfed.  He  had 
had  a  Promife  from  Dr.  Mather  to  meet  him  to 
compare  Notes,  but  it  does  not  appear  that  any 
Time  was  ftated ;  and  after  feveral  Months  had 
elapfed  Mr.  Calef  wrote,  requesting  him  to  fix 
upon  a  Time  and  Place  of  Meeting.  A  Meeting 
however  never  occurred,  of  the  Kind  defired ; 
but,  as  the  only  Means  of  getting  the  Doctor's 
Views  of  what  he  had  written,  he  fent  him  a 
Copy  of  his  Notes  on  Margaret  Rule's  Exhibi- 
tions, two  of  which  he  feems  to  have  witnefTed. 
On  the  15th  of  January,  1693-4,  the  Doctor 
wrote  him  a  long  Letter,  in  which  he  fays  :  "  I 
have  this  to  fay,  as  I  have  often  already  faid,  that 
do  I  fcarcely  find  any  one  Thing  in  the  whole 
Paper,  whether  refpedting  my  Father  or  felf,  either 
fairly  or  truly  reprefented."  The  Fairnefs  on 
both  Sides  may  be  judged  of,  as  both  Papers  will 
be  found  in  the  enfuing  Work,  Pages  1 3—22. 

The  Do6tor  fent  the  Author,  accompanying 
his  Letter,  Copies  of  three  Depofitions,  or  State- 
ments from  feveral  Perfons,  to  the  Effecfl  that 
what  he  had  ftated  regarding  the  ftrange  Condud: 


xvi  Memoir  of  Richard  Calef, 

of  Margaret  Rule  was  true ;  efpecially  as  to  the 
Fa6l,  that  ihe  was  by  invifible  Hands  raifed  from 
her  Bed  up  to  the  Garret  Floor,  and  that  ftrong 
Men,  the  Byftanders,  could  not  hold  her  down. 
The  Height  of  the  Room  is  not  mentioned ;  but 
one  Witnefs,  Samuel  Aves,  fays  it  was  "  a  great 
Way ;"  that  fhe  was  lifted  "  towards  the  Top  of 
the  Room."  Three  others  faid,  this  was  "  in  Sub- 
ftance  true."  Alfo,  Thomas  Thornton,  a  Paver, 
faid  fhe  was  lifted  up,  "  fo  as  to  touch  the  Garret 
Floor ;"  ,  to  which  William  Hudfon  alTented  in 
"  Subflance."  All  of  which  Teftimonies,  Mr. 
Calef  ventured  to  iniinuate  was  about  as  true,  as  a 
Report  would  be  that  Iron  would  fwim  on  Wa- 
ter ;  that  if  that  Rifing  in  the  Air  without  Hands 
a6tually  took  place,  it  was  a  Miracle,  and  if  a 
Miracle  it  was  wrought  by  the  Devil.  And  yet 
it  feems  that  Mr.  Calef  believed  none  but  God 
himfelf  could  work  Miracles. 

^  Between  the  Date  of  his  laft  Letter  and  the 
19th  of  February,  1693-4,  inftead  of  anfwering 
Mr.  Calef 's  Letter,  Dr.  Mather  fent  him  Word 
that  his  Library  was  open  to  him,  intimating  that 
he  might  find  there  Anfwers  to  any  and  all  of  his 
Objed:ions  and  Difficulties.  But  Mr.  Calef  did 
not  avail  himfelf  of  the  Kindnefs  thus  tendered, 
though  he  thanked  him  by  Letter,  and  at  the 
fame  Time  complained  that  he  had  not  written 
him,  pointing  out  what  he   conceived  to  be  Er- 

'  rors  in  his  former  Communications ;  adding,  "  if 
you  think  Silence  a  Virtue  in  this  Cafe,  I  iliall  (I 


Memoi?'  of  Rohe?'t  Calef.  xvii 

fuppofe)  fo  far  comply  with  it  as  not  to  loofe  you 
any  more  Time  to  look  over  my  Papers."  This 
however  did  not  end  the  Correfpondence ;  for. on 
the  1 6th  of  April  following  he  addrelTed  a  Letter 
to  the  Doctor,  calling  his  Attention  to  certain 
PalTages  in  the  Wonders  of  the  Invijible  Worlds  and 
fome  other  "  late  Books  of  his  and  his  Relations." 
After  ftating  a  few  of  the  Author's  ftrange  AfTer- 
tions,  fuch  as  that  the  Devil  caufes  Wars,  Plagues, 
and  other  Calamities ;  that  the  Devil  is  a  great 
Linguift ;  that  Suicides  "  are  the  Effe(5ts  of  a 
cruel  &  bloody  Witchcraft,"  and  feveral  other 
limilar  Quotations.  In  doling  this  Letter,  he 
remarks  that  he  is  only  performing  what  he  be- 
lieves to  be  his  Duty ;  that  he  is  far  from  doing 
it  to  gain  Applaufe,  or  from  a  Love  of  Conten- 
tion ;  that,  on  the  other  Hand,  he  expedted  to 
make  many  Enemies  by  it. 

The  next  Letter  which  he  wrote  to  Mr.  Ma- 
ther was  dated  March  the  ift,  1694-5.  In  this 
he  fays  he  had  waited  more  than  a  Year  "  for  the 
Performance  of  a  reiterated  Promife"  from  him, 
to  reply  to  Arguments  which  he  had  fent  for  his 
Refutation  or  Approval.  Inftead  of  that  pro- 
mifed  Anfwer,  he  had  received,  through  the 
Hand  of  a  third  Perfon,  "four  Sheets  of  re- 
cinded  Papers."  Thefe  were  delivered  under  an 
Injunction  that  no  Copy  was  to  be  taken  of  them, 
and  he  was  allowed  to  keep  them  but  a  Fort- 
night. He  has  given  fome  Account  of  thofe 
"  four  Sheets,"  and  obferves  that  he  does  not  won- 

C 


« 


xviii  Memoir  of  Robert  Calef. 

der  at  not  being  allowed  to  copy  them,  as  they 
contained  fo  much  "crude  Matter  and  impertinent 
Abfurdities."  Among  other  Things,  he  fent  Mr. 
Calef  Baxter's  World  of  Spirits,  charadterizing  it 
an  ungainfayable  Book ;  upon  which  Mr.  Calef 
remarks,  as  aptly  as  fignificantly,  that  he  knows 
of  no  "ungainfayable"  Book  but  the  Bible,  and 
thinks  no  other  Man  who  had  ever  read  it  would 
fo  ftyle  it  except  its  Author.  He  is  probably 
correft  when  he  attributes  to  Mr.  Baxter  the 
Weaknefs  incident  to  old  Age,  in  allowing  his 
Name  to  appear  as  the  Author  of  The  Certainty 
of  the  World  of  Sprits.  But  his  own  Words 
are  more  to  the  Point:  "As  to  the  fometime 
Reverend  Author,  let  his  Works  praife  the  Re- 
membrance of  him  ;  but  for  fuch  as  are  either 
Erroneous  and  foifted  upon  him,  or  the  Effe6l  of 
an  aged  Imbecility,  let  them  be  detected  that  they 
may  proceed  no  further." 

The  Experience  of  Mr.  Calef  was  limilar, 
probably,  to  that  of  moft  Reformers,  both  before 
and  fmce  his  Time.  To  combat  fimilar  Super- 
ftitions  at  this  Day  would  be  nearly  or  quite  as 
hazardous  as  it  was  then.  Indeed,  there  have 
been  Cafes  within  fome  thirty  Years  in  New 
England,  in  which  Individuals  have  fared  much 
worfe  than  Robert  Calef  did  in  Bofton  more 
than  an  hundred  Years  before,  and  for  no  offence 
worthy  of  Notice ;  neither  had  an  Eighth  of  the 
Community  a  Voice  in  this  Perfecution,  while  in 
Mr.  Calef 's  Cafe  nine  Tenths  of  the  whole  Peo- 


Memoir  of  Robert  Calef.  xix 

pie  probably  were  crying  out  againft  him.  The 
Villainy  of  a  fingle  Lawyer,  and  the  Imbecility 
of  a  Judge  may  fometimes  fucceed  in  ruining  for 
a  Time  the  Character  of  any  Citizen. 

Mr.  Calef  feems  to  have  been  almoft  alone  in 
the  Warfare  he  had  undertaken.     "  How  Few," 
he  fays,  "  are  willing  to  be  found  oppofmg  fuch  a 
Torrent,  as  knowing,  that   in  fo  doing,  they  fliall 
be  fure  to  meet  with  Oppofition  to  the  utmoft, 
from  the  many,  both  of  Magiftrates,  Minifters  and 
people ;   and  the  name  of  Sadducee,  Atheift,  and 
perhaps  Witch  too  caft  upon  them  moft  liberally, 
by  Men  of  the  higheft  Profeffion  in  Godlinefs."    i 
Owing    to    the    peculiar   State  of  the    Times 
when  Mr.   Calef  wrote,  he  felt  himfelf  obliged 
to  admit  a   great  Deal  that  a  Writer   at  a  later 
Day  would  not  have  found  it   Neceffary.     This 
will  account   for  fome  heavy  Papers   introduced 
into   the   Body  of  his  Work.      He    had  a    moft 
difficult  Tafk  to  perform.      Like  the  Mariner  in 
a  Tempeft  upon  a  Lee  Shore,  he  needed  an  Eye 
on  every  Point  of  the  Compafs,  and  a  deep  Sea 
Lead  ever  in  Hand. 

What  Overtures,  if  any,  he  made  to  Printers  in 
Bofton  to  print  his  Books,  are  unknown.  It  is 
pretty  certain,  however,  that  no  One  would  have 
dared  to  undertake  it.  And  what  Agency,  if  any, 
he  employed  to  have  it  done  Abroad,  is  equally 
unknown.  But  one  Thing  is  known  ;  no  Book- 
feller  had  the  Hardihood  to  offer  it  for  Sale,  or 
dared    to    give  it  Shop-room.      He   had   a    few 


XX  Memoir  of  Robert  Calef. 

Friends  who  flood  by  him,  ready  to  fhield  him, 
as  far  as  was  confiftent  with  their  own  Safety,  but 
none  had  the  Boldnefs  to  come  out  fo  openly  as 
he  did.  Some  wrote  ftrongly  againft  the  Delu- 
fion,  but  not  for  PubHcation ;  as  Brattle  of  Cam- 
bridge, Gary  of  Charleftown,  and  Robert  Paine. 
The  Work  of  the  laft  named  Gentleman  has  not 
been  made  public,  and  remains  in  private  Hands. 
It  is  faid  to  be  a  mofl:  maflerly  Refutation  of  the 
Arguments  made  ufe  of  againft  Witches,  written 
in  the  Time  of  the  Trials.  But  it  feems,  on  a 
careful  Perufal  of  Mr.  Galef 's  More  Wonder Sy  that 
not  much  more  can  be  faid  (admitting  or  defer- 
ring to  a  Sort  of  Authority  which  cannot  be 
argued  from,)  to  fhow  the  utter  Abfurdity  of  the 
Proceedings  on  the  Witch  Trials.  He  has,  it 
mufl;  be  admitted,  exhaufted  the  Subjed:.  It  is 
very  eafy,  it  is  true,  to  fay  the  fame  Thing,  ufing 
different  and  more  elegant  Language,  according 
to  the  prefent  Standard  of  Elegance  ;  but  for  clofe 
and  fuccind:  Argument,  the  Author  has  not  been 
furpaffed  by  his  SuccefTors.  His  Statement  of 
Apology  for  thofe  poor  People  who  had  confeffed 
themfelves  Witches,  and  accufed  others,  is  highly 
fatisfadiory. 

Mr.  Galef  polTefTed  more  than  ordinary  At- 
tainments in  Literature ;  he  was  no  Stranger  to 
legal  Forms  ;  and  as  to  theological  Learning,  was, 
for  Soundnefs  of  Argument,  quite  fuperior  to  thofe 
who  were  in  the  Field  againfl  him.  Thefe  Fads 
excite  a  Defire   to  know  more  of  his  Hiftory ; 


Memoir  of  Robert  Calef.  xxi 

for  all  that  has  been  learned  about  him,  is  that  he 
was  a  "  Merchant  of  Bofton,"  and  that  he  was  a 
Dealer  in  woolen  Goods ;  and  hence  the  Attempt 
of  a  narrow  minded  Oppofition  to  clafs  him 
among  the  Ordinary  and  Illiterate  of  the  Time 
They  alfo  defcended  to  vulgar  Epithets,  calling 
him  a  Calf;  his  Book  they  call  a  "  Firebrand, 
thrown  by  a  Mad-man  ;"  and,  "  it  was  highly  re- 
joycing  to  us,  when  we  heard  that  our  Book- 
fellers  were  fo  well  acquainted  with  the  Integrity 
of  our  Paftors,  as  not  one  of  them  would  admit 
of  thofe  Libels  to  be  vended  in  their  Shops." . 
This  was  the  Language  of  the  Men  who  pub- 
lifhed  "  Some   few  Remarks,  upon  a  Scandalous 

Book written  by  one  Robert  Calef,"  with 

the  Motto  —  "Truth  will  come  off  Conqueror." 
This  Publication  is  dated  "January  9th,  1 700-1," 
and  purports  to  have  been  drawn  up  by  Obadiah 
Gill,  John  Barnard,  John  Goodwin,  William  Ro- 
bie,  Timothy  Wadfworth,  Robert  Cumbey,  and 
George  Robinfon ;  none  of  whom  were  Men  of 
fpecial  Note  then  or  afterwards.  It  (hould  be 
obferved,  however,  that  they  were  Members  of 
the  Old  North  Church.  Any  further  Notice  of 
the  Anfwer  to  the  More  Wonders  is  unnecelfary 
here ;  but  it  will  be  ufed  in  the  Notes  occafion- 
ally,  that  the  ^^ Slandered''  may  fpeak  for  them- 
felves. 

It  was  probably  about  the  Time  of  the  IlTue 
of  the  Sotne  Few  Remarks  that  the  More  Wonders 
was  caufed  to  be  burnt  in  the   College  Yard  at 


xxii  Memoir  of  Robert  Calef, 

Cambridge,  by  Order  of  the  Prelident,  Dr.  In- 
creafe  Mather.  The  Burning  was  doubtlefs  per- 
formed with  much  of  Ceremony  and  FormaUty, 
but  there  does  not  appear  to  have  been  any  Record 
made  of  it  upon  the  College  Books ;  or  if  fo, 
the  Hiftorians  of  the  Inftitution  have  not  men- 
tioned it.  This  Kind  of  Argument  again  ft  what 
is  fet  forth  in  a  Book,  is  about  as  effectual  as  that 
employed  againft  the  Tide  of  the  Ocean  by  an 
eaftern  Monarch.  That  the  Preiident  of  the 
College  had  no  great  Faith  in  his  Argument,  is 
pretty  clear,  or  fo  much  Pains  would  not  have 
been  taken  by  him  in  making  another  Book  to 
refute  the  Arguments  contained  in  the  one  he 
had  burned. 

The  precife  Date  of  Mr.  Calef's  Death  is  not 
upon  any  Records  which  have  been  examined ; 
and  the  laft  Time  he  appears  to  have  tranfa6ted 
any  Bufinefs  requiring  his  Signature,  was  at  the 
Regiftry  of  Deeds,  then  under  the  official  Man- 
agement of  John  Ballantine,  Efq.,  when  he 
releafed  a  Mortgage  which  he  held  of  certain 
Lands  in  Roxbury ;  which  Mortgage  was  given 
by  Jofeph  Holland  and  his  Wife  Elizabeth,  and 
dated  the  nth  of  March,  1720.  [  Of  courfe, 
1721,  N.  S.  ]  The  Releafe  was  ligned  by  the 
Mortgagor,  April  iith,  1722.  His  Signature  on 
this  Occafion  has  been  copied,  and  is  here  pre- 
fented. 


Memoir  of  Robert  Calef.         xxiii 

But  a  fhort  Time  previous  to  this  Tranfad:ion 
he  deeded  certain  Property  to  his  Children.  In 
this  Inftrument,  dated  February  loth,  1721, 
[1722,  N.  S.,]  he  ftyles  himfelf  Clothier,  and 
names  Children,  Elizabeth,  Ann,  Margaret  and 
James.  Two  Houfes  and  Land ;  one  in  prefent 
Poffeffion  of  James  Smith ;  the  other  in  his  own 

Polleffion  ;  bounded  N.  W.  upon Street,  N. 

E.  upon  Thomas  Wheeler,  S.  E.  upon  William 
Gold,  and  S.  W.  upon  Bond  Street ;  alfo  one 
Trad:  of  Land  in  Brookline ;  alfo  a  Mortgage 
from  James  Barton,  Ropemaker,  referving  to 
himfelf  and  his  now  married  Wife  the  Ufe  of  the 
Premifes  during  their  Lives. 

The  following  is  an  Abftrad;  of  his  Will : 
"  I  Robert  Calfe  of  Bofton,  being  now  in  found 
Body  and  Minde  doe  make  this  my  laft  Will 
[and]  appoint  my  well  beloved  Wife  Executrix. 
After  funerall  Charges  and  all  Other  my  jufl 
Debtts  being  paide,  my  Will  is  that  my  Wife 
[have]  all  my  Eftate  during  her  Widdowhood ; 
and  in  Cafe  fhe  fee  Caus  to  alter  her  Condition 
by  Marraig,  that  then  Ihe  fhall  quitt  her  Admin- 
ifterfhip,  and  the  Improvement  of  the  Eftate, 
wholey  to  be  for  the  Benneiitt  of  my  Children  ; 
only  two  hundred  Pounds  I  will  unto  her  upon 
her  Marraig,  and  the  whoolly  Remainder  to  be 
difpofte  of  as  follower  Son  James  £100,  when 
of  Age  more  then  any  of  the  Reft  of  my  Chil- 
dren :  And  allfo  I  give  £200  ought  of  faid  Eftate 
for   defraying   the  Charges  of  bringing  him  up 


xxiv  Memoir  of  Robert  Calef. 

to  the  Collig,  if  he  inclines  to  Larning,  but  if 
not  then  to  be  equaley  divided  among  him  and 
the  Reft  of  my  Children,  viz.  Elizabeth,  Ann 
and  Margaret,  together  with  what  Children  it 
fhall  plees  God  to  give  me  by  my  prefent  Wife : 
And  it  is  my  Will  that  my  Daughters,  Elizabeth, 
Ann  and  Margaret  have  an  equall  Proportion  of 
all  my  Eftate,  Perfonall  and  Reall,  only  what  is 
before  excepted  unto  my  Son  James,  and  that 
they  be  paid  upon  Marraig  or  at  the  Difcretion 
of  my  Executrix,  if  fhe  remain  a  Widow,  and  if 
it  pleafe  God  to  take  away  my  Children  by  Death 
before  of  Age  or  without  Iftue  the  whole  of  my 
Eftate  to  return  to  my  Wife  or  to  her  Difpofe. 

2d  of  yan.y  1720. 


"In  Prefence of  Sam^J  Wentworth,  John  Alden, 
Jr.  and  John  Tyler. 

"  Margaret  Calfe  prefented  the  within  Will  for 
Probat  and  John  Alden,  Jun^"  and  John  Tyler 
made  Oath,  &c.  and  they  together  with  Sami 
Wentworth,  who  is  now  out  of  the  Province  fet 
to  their  Hands  as  Witnefles  in  the  Teftator's  Pre- 
fence.     Bofton,  Feb.  i8th,  1722-3. 

"  Samuel  Sewall  J  Prob^" 

The  Teftator  was  too  ill,  it  is  probable,  to  draw 
up  his  Will  himfelf,  or  one  fo  unclerical  would 
not   have   appeared.     The   Circumftances,  how- 


Memoir  of  Robert  Calef,  xxv 

ever,  under  which  it  was  made,  are  entirely  con- 
jediural.  His  Wife  was  Hving,  a  Widow,  till 
about  1744;  as  in  September  of  that  Year  her 
Will  was  proved.  It  was  made  four  Years  be- 
fore, namely,  September  17th,  1740.  The  Items 
of  Intereft  in  it  here  follow : 

"  To  Grandfon  Thomas  Green  £60 ;  to  Mar- 
garet Green  £20,  and  a  filver  Porringer  which 
her  Father  now  has.  To  Ann  Green  £30,  and 
a  gold  Necklace.  To  Bethiah  Green  £20.  To 
John  Green  £20.  To  Mary  Green  £20,  and  to 
Rebeckah  Green  £30;  all  the  Children  of  my 
Daughter  Ann  Green  deceafed.  To  Daughter 
Margaret  Star's  four  Children,  namely,  to  Jofeph, 
£20;  Robert,  £20;  Mary,  £20;  and  Benjamin 
Star,  £20.  Clothing  to  be  divided  between 
Daughter  Star,  and  Grand  Daughter,  Ann  Green. 
The  Remainder  of  Eftate  to  be  divided  between 
Daughter  Margaret  Star  and  Son  James  Calf; 
faid  Son  to  be  Executor  if  in  the  Province ; 
otherwife,  Coufin  Thomas  Simpkins. 

**  Dated,  January  2d,  1720.     Signed, 

"Margaret  Calf. 

"Witnefles  —  Abigail  Weft,  Barnabas  Gibbs, 
John  Swinnerton." 

It  was  prefented  for  Probate  by  Thomas  Simp- 
kins  ;  James  Calf  being  out  of  the  Province. 

In  the  General  Court  Records  Notice  is  given, 
under  Date  June  25th,  1723,  of  a  "Petition  of 
Margaret  Calef,  Widow,  and  fole   Executrix  of 

D 


xxvi         Memoir  of  Robert  Calef. 

the  laft  Will  of  Robert  Calef,  late  of  Bofton, 
Merchant,  deceafed,"  praying  for  Leave  to  fell  a 
feventh  Part  of  a  Houfe  and  Land  in  Roxbury, 
of  which  faid  Robert  Calef  died  feized.  The 
Father  of  Mr.  Calef,  alfo  named  Robert,  had 
died  inteftate,  April  13th,  171 9,  and  his  Wife  on 
the  1 2th  of  November  follovv^ing.  In  the  Settle- 
ment of  his  Eftatc,  it  is  ftated  that  the  "  Houfmg 
and  Lands  lying  in  Roxbury,  cannot  be  divided 
without  Prejudice  and  Injury ;"  hence  the  Peti- 
tion before  mentioned. 

A  few  Items  here  follow,  given  for  the  Benefit 
of  thofe  who  may  hereafter  defire  to  inveftigate 
the  Hiftory  of  the  Calef  Family ; 

Dr.  Jofeph  Calef  died  at  Ipfwich,  Dec.  31ft, 
1707,  leaving  a  Wife,  and  Children,  Robert,  Jo- 
feph, Samuel,  Ebenezer,  Peter  and  Mary.  This 
was,  doubtlefs  the  Emigrant  to  Ipfwich,  where, 
in  1692,  he  had  a  Grant  for  a  Fulling-mill.  Jo- 
feph Calef  was  a  Scout  in  Capt.  John  Goff*s 
Company  in  1746.  Mary,  Widow  of  Jofeph 
Calef,  married  Thomas  Choate  of  Ipfwich  ;  Date 
of  Marriage  is  not  ftated.  Jofeph  Calef  was  of 
Bofton,  1746,  in  which  Year  he  petitioned,  with 
others,  for  the  Paving  of  Atkinfon  Street. 

James  Calef  and  his  Son  Samuel  were  Cap- 
tives among  the  Indians  and  French  ;  were  taken 
at  Fort  William  Henry,  in  Auguft,  1757.  Abi- 
gail, the  Wife  of  James  and  Mother  of  Samuel, 
made  Application  in  their  behalf  to  the  Authori- 
ties of  the  Province.     No  Mention  is  made  of 


Memoir  of  Robert  Calef,  xxvii 

their  place  of  Refidence.  Dr.  John  Calef,  of 
Ipfwich,  married  Margaret,  Daughter  of  Nathan- 
iel and  Mary  (Leverett)  Rogers,  of  the  fame 
Town.     He  was  born  1725. 

After  the  bloody  Fight  at  Pequawket,  Go- 
vernor Dummer  wrote  to  Eleazer  Tyng :  "  Send 
down  to  me  forthwith  by  the  Bearer  hereof,  Mr. 
Calef,  the  moft  intelligent  Perfon  among  Lovell's 
Men  returned,  that  I  may  have  a  perfed:  Account 
of  that  Adiion."  What  Mr.  Calef  this  was,  does 
not  with  certainty  appear. 

A  Mrs.  Mary  Calfe  died  at  Concord,  N.  H., 
Auguft  10,  1 8 17,  aged  ninety-eight  Years.  Her 
firft  Hufband  was  Samuel  Bradley,  who  was  killed 
by  the  Indians,  Auguft  nth,  1746.  She  after- 
wards married  Robert  Calfe,  Efq.,  of  Chefter,  in 
the  fame  State.  This  is  on  the  Authority  of  Mr. 
Bouton,  in  his  Hijiory  of  Concord,  who,  in  another 
Place,  fays  Calfe's  Name  was  Richard.  Whether 
Richard  or  Robert,  he  was  probably  a  Defcendant 
of  James,  the  only  furviving  Son  of  Robert,  the 
"  Merchant  of  Bofton."  The  maiden  Name  of 
Mrs.  Calfe  was  Folfom. 

When  the  Federal  Conftitution  of  New  Hamp- 
fliire  was  adopted  (1788,)  John  Calfe,  Efq.,  was 
chofen  Secretary  of  the  Convention.  He  was 
alfo  Secretary  in  1791,  when  the  Conftitution  was 
revifed.  His  Son  Jofeph  died  at  Hampftead,  N. 
H.,  Auguft  6,  1854,  aged  79.  A  John  Calef  was 
in  the  Old  Mill  Prifon,  England,  1789.  Jere- 
miah Calef,  a  Native  of  Exeter,  N.  H.,  died  at 


xxviii      Memoir  of  Robert  Calef, 

Northfield,  23d  February,  1856,  aged  73  Years, 
10  Months.  James,  an  only  Brother  of  Jere- 
miah, died  at  Sanbornton,  30th  March,  1856, 
aged  71. 

Robert  Calef  was  an  eminent  Ship-mafter  be- 
tween Bofton  and  London  before  the  Revolution. 
His  Arrival  on  one  Occalion  is  thus  noticed  in 
the  Gazette  and  News- Letter  of  April  5th,  1764: 
"  In  Captain  Calef  came  PafTengers,  the  Captains, 
Edward  Wendell,  John  Marfhall,  and  Dodtor 
Marfhall  of  this  Town.  Mrs.  M^^Taggart,  and 
her  Son  Gray  of  this  Town,  died  of  the  Small- 
pox in  London."  The  Autographs  of  feveral  of 
the  Name  of  Calef  (always  fo  fpelt)  are  in  the 
Writer's  PofTeffion  from  1755  to  1780.  In  1755, 
Jofeph  was  engaged  in  fupplying  Ships  with 
Water.  In  1 767,  Jofeph  Calef,  probably  the  fame, 
was  largely  in  the  leather  Trade.  He  was  a  Tan- 
ner, and  his  Tan-yard  was  in  the  Neighborhood 
of  the  Old  Bofton  Theatre. 

What  Time  the  Family  of  Robert  Calef  came 
to  this  Country  has  not  been  afcertained.  It  was 
probably  in  the  latter  Half  of  the  feventeenth 
Century,  and  our  Author  may  have  had  his  Edu- 
cation before  his  Emigration.  This  View  may 
be  confidered  probable,  from  a  PafTage  in  his 
Preface  to  the  More  Wonders,  &c. 

After  the  Above  was  written,  it  came  to  my 
Notice,  that  in  a  Volume  iflued  by  the  Mafs. 
Hiji.  Soc,  were  fome  Extracts  from  the  Diary  of 
Cotton  Mather.     Alfo  the  following,  concerning 


Memoir  of  Robert  Calef,         xxix 

Robert  Calef,  in  a  Memorandum-book  of  Dr. 
Belknap  :  "  Robert  Calef,  Author  of  More  Won- 
ders of  the  Invifible  Worlds  was  a  Native  of  Eng- 
land ;  a  young  Man  of  good  Senfe,  and  free  from 
Superftition ;  a  Merchant  in  Bofton.  He  was 
furnifhed  with  Materials  for  his  Work  by  Mr. 
Brattle,  of  Cambridge ;  and  his  Brother,  of  Bof- 
ton ;  and  other  Gentlemen,  who  were  oppofed  to 
the  Salem  Proceedings.  E.  P."  [Ebenezer  Pem- 
berton  ?  ] 


[■iThe  Epiftle  to  the  READER. 

And  more  efpecially  to  the  Noble  Bereans^  of  this  Jge^  wherever 

Refiding. 
Gentlemen, 

YOU  that  are  freed  from  the  Slauery  of  a  corrupt  Education; 
and  that  infpite  of  human  Precepts^  Examples  and  Precfidents^ 
can  hearken  to  the  DiSlates  of  Scripture  and  Reafon: 

For  your  fakes  I  am  content^  that  thefe  ColleSiions  of  mine^  as  alfo 
my  Sentiments  jhould  he  expofed  to  puhlick  view.  In  hopes  that 
having  well  conftdered^  and  compared  them  with  Scripture^  you  will 
fee  reafon^  as  I  do^  to  quejiion  a  belief  fo  prevalent  {as  that  here 
treated  of)  as  alfo  the  praSiice  f owing  from  thence ;  they  Jianding 
as  nearly  connext  as  caufe  and  effeSi  i  it  being  found  wholly  imprac- 
ticable^ to  extirpate  the  latter  without  firji  curing  the  former. 

And  if  the  Buffoon  or  Satyrical  will  be  exerciftng  their  Talents^ 
or  if  the  Bigots  wilfully  and  blindly  rejeSi  the  Tejiimonies  of  their 
own  Reafon^  and  more  fur e  word^  it  is  no  more  than  what  I  expeSled 
from  them. 

But  you  Gentlemen^  I  doubt  not  are  willing  to  Dijiinguijh  be- 
tween Truth  and  Error  ^  and  if  this  may  be  any  furtherance  to  you 
herein.^  I Jhall  not  mifs  my  Aim. 

But  if  you  find  the  contrary^  and  that  my  belief  herein  is  any  way 
Heterodox.,  I  Jhall  be  thankful  for  the  Information  to  any  Learned 
or  Reverend  Perfon.,  or  others^  that  Jhall  take  that  pains  to  inform 


1  Tn   both  the  fecond  and  third  The  Inhabitants  of  ancient  Benea 

Editions  this  Name  is  printed  Ba-  were  called  Beraans.     The  prefent 

rons.     The    Printer    probably   not  Aleppo  occupies  the  Site.     For  the 

knowing  what  elfe   to  make  of  it.  Point,  fee  Ails,  xvii,  1 1 . 

E 


4  The  Preface,  [i] 

me  better  by  Scripture^  or  found  Reafon^  which  is  what  I  have  been 
long  fee  king  for  in  this  Country  in  vain.  2 

In  a  time  when  not  only  England  in  particular^  but  almoji  all 
Europe  had  been  labouring  againji  the  Ufur pat  ions  of  Tyranny 
and  Slavery.  The  Englifh,  America  has  not  been  behind  in  a 
Jhare  in  the  Common  calamities;  more  efpecially  New-England, 
has  met  not  only  with  fuch  calamities  as  are  common  to  the  rejl^  hut 
with  feveral  aggravations  enhanftng  fuch  Afflictions^  by  the  De- 
vajiations  and  Cruelties  of  the  Barbarous  Indians  in  their  Eaftern 
borders^  &c. 

But  this  is  not  all^  they  have  been  harraji  [on  many  accounts)  by 
a  more  dreadful  Enemy^  as  will  herein  appear  to  the  confederate. 

P.  66.  Were  it  as  we  are  told  in  Wonders  of  the  Invifible 
Worlds  that  the  Devils  were  walking  about  our  Streets  with 
lengthned  Chains  making  a  dreadful  noife  in  our  Ears,  and  Brim- 
ftone,  even  without  a  Metaphor,  was  making  a  horrid  and  a 
hellifh  ftench  in  our  Noftrils.-^  P.  49. 

And  That  the  Devil  exhibiting  himfelf  ordinarily  as  a  black- 
Man,  had  decoy'd  a  fearful  knot  of  Proud,  Froward,  Ignorant, 
Envious  and  Malitious  Creatures,  to  lift  themfelves  in  his  horrid 
Service,  by  entring  their  Names  in  a  Book  tendered  unto  them  ; 
and  that  they  have  had  their  Meetings  and  Sacraments,  and  aflb- 
ciated  themfelves  to  deftroy  the  Kingdom  of  our  Lord  Jefus 

2  This  is  the  Remark  that  led  me  upon  the  Readers   of  his  Poem  the 
to  think  the  Author  was  not  a  Na-  Horrors  fpoken  of  in  the  Text  : 
tive  of  New  England.      An  Extraft  ^^^^  j^^^j^^  brought  as  they  are  taught, 
by  Dr.  Belknap,   noted  m   the  ac-         unto  the  Brink  of  Hell, 
companying  Memoir  is  corrobora-  (That  Difmal  Place  far  from  Chrifts  Face, 
tive  of  the  Conjefture.  Where  Death  and  Darknefs  dwell : 

3  See  Vol.  I,  Pages  I  2  I  -2.       Co-  Where  Gods  fierce  Ire  kindleth  the  Fire, 

.  ,      ,   °  .      ,                 r    J  And  Veneeance  reeds  the  Flame 

temporary  with  the  Author,  we  find  ^.^^^  pjj^^  oi^ooA,  and  Brimftone  Flood, 

that  emment  Divine,  Michael  Wig-  ^hat  none  can  quench  the  fame, 

glefworth,  thus  poetically  impreffing  Day  of  Doom,  Stanza  zo8. 


[2]  The  Preface.  5 

Chrift,  in  thefe  parts  of  the  World  ;  having  each  of  them  their 
Spectres,  or  Devils  Commiflionated  by  them,  and  [2]  repre- 
fenting  of  them  to  be  the  Engines  of  their  Malice,  by  thefe 
wicked  Spedlres,  fiezing  poor  People  about  the  Country,  with 
various  and  bloody  Torments.  And  of  thofe  evidently  preter- 
natural Torments  fome  to  have  died.  And  that  they  have  be- 
witched fome  even  fo  far,  as  to  make  them  felf  deftroyers,  and 
others  in  many  Towns,  here  and  there  languifli'd  under  their  evil 
hands.  The  People,  thus  afflided,  miferably  fcratch'd  and  bit- 
ten ;  and  that  the  fame  Invifible  Furies  did  flick  Pins  in  them, 
and  fcal'd  them,  diftort  and  disjoint  them,  with  a  Thoufand  other 
Plagues  ;  and  fometimes  drag  them  out  of  their  Chambers,  and 
carry  them  over  Trees,  and  Hills  Miles  together,  many  of  them 
being  tempted  to  fign  the  Devils  Laws. 

P.  7.  Thofe  furies  whereof feveral  have  killed  more  People  perhaps 
than  would  ferve  to  make  a  Village,  If  this  be  the  true  ftate  of 
the  AffliSfions  of  this  Country^  it  is  very  deplorable,  and  beyond 
all  other  outward  Calamities  miferable.  But  if  on  the  other  fide, 
the  Matter  be  as  others  do  underjland  it.  That  the  Devil  has 
been  too  hard  for  us  by  his  Temptations,  ftgns,  and  lying  Won- 
ders, with  the  help  of  pernicious  notions,  formerly  imbibed  and  pro- 
fe[fed',  together  with  the  Accufations  of  a  parcel  of  pofjeffed,  dif- 
traSied,  or  lying  Wenches,  accufing  their  Innocent  Neighbours, 
pretending  they  fee  their  Spectres  (i.  e.)  Devils  in  their  likenefs 
Afflicting  of  them,  and  that  God  in  righteous  Judgement,  [after 
Men  had  afcribed  his  Power  to  Witches,  of  commifflonating  Devils 
to  do  thefe  things)  may  have  given  them  over  to  firong  delufions  to 
believe  lyes,  ^c  And  to  let  loofe  the  Devils  of  Envy,  Hatred,  Pride, 
Cruelty  and  Malice  againfi  each  other;  yet  fiill  difguifed  under  the 
Majk  of  Zeal  for  God,  and  left  them  to  the  branding  one  another, 
with  the  odious  Name  of  Witch ;  and  upon  the  Accufation  of  thofe 


6  TT^e  Preface.  [3] 

,  above  mentioned^  Brother  to  Accufe  and  Profecute  Brother^  Chtld- 
\j  ren  their  Parents^  Pajiors  and  Teachers  their  immediate  Flock  unto 
death  ;  Shepherds  becoming  Wolves^  Wife  Men  Infatuated ;  People 
hauled  to  Prifons^  with  a  bloody  noife  purfuing  to^  and  infulting 
over^  the  [true]  Sufferers  at  Execution^  while  fome  are  fleeing  from 
that  called  Jujlice^  Juft^ce  itf elf  fleeing  before  fuch  Accufations^ 
when  once  it  did  but  begin  to  refrain  further  proceedings ;  and  to 
que/iion  fuch  PraSiifes^  fome  making  their  Efcape  out  of  Prifons^ 
rather  than  by  an  objlinate  Defence  of  their  Innocency^  to  run  fo 
apparent  hazard  of  their  Lives ;  Efiates  fei%ed^  Families  of  Child- 
ren and  others  left  to  the  Mercy  of  the  Wildernefs  {not  to  mention 
here  the  Numbers  prefcribed^  dead  in  Prifons^  or  Executed^  &c.) 

All  which  Tragedies^  tho  begun  in  one  Town^  or  rather  by  one 
Parijh^  has  Plague-like  fpread  more  than  through  that  Country. 
And  by  its  Eccho  giving  a  brand  of  Infamy  to  this  whole  Country^ 
throughout  the  World. 

If  this  were  the  Miferable  cafe  of  this  Country  in  the  time 
thereof  and  that  the  Devil  had  fo  far  prevailed  upon  us  in  our 
Sentiments  and  ASfions^  as  to  draw  us  from  fo  much  as  looking  into 
the  Scriptures  for  our  guidance  in  thefe  pretended  Intricacies^  lead- 
ing us  to  a  trujiing  in  blind  guides^  fuch  as  the  corrupt  practices  of 
fome  other  Countries  or  the  bloody  Experiments  of  Bodin^^  [3]  and 
fuch  other  Authors.  Then  tho  our  Cafe  be  moji  miferable^  yet  it 
mujl  be  faid  of  New-England,  Thou  hafi  dejiroyed  thyfelf  and 
brought  this  greateji  of  Miferies  upon  thee. 

4  John   Bodin  was  a  Frenchman  des  Sorciers,  in  410.     It  is  full  of  all 

of  great  Learning,   born  at  Angers  thofe  Superftitions  for  which  the  Age 

1530,   Some  ofhisHiftorical  Works  in  which  the  Author  lived  is  cele- 

were  formerly   in  great  Repute  in  brated.      See    Camerarius,    Living 

England  as  well  as  in  France.     His  Library,  Page  2,  Edition  1625,  Fol. 

Work  referred  to  above  was  pub-  See   alfo    Mr.  Fowler's  interefting 

lilhed  at  Paris  in    1579,  under  the  Note  to  the  laft   Salem  Edition  of 

Title  La  Demonomaniet  ou  Traite  Salem  If^itchcraft,  P.  ix. 


[3I  The  Preface,  7 

And  now  whether  the  Witches  {fuch  as  have  made  a  compaSf  by     )  / 
Explicit  Covenant  with  the  Devil,  having  thereby  obtained  a  power 
to  CommiJJionate  him)  have  been  the  eaufe  of  our  miferies. 

Or  whether  a  Zeal  governed  by  blindnefs  and  pajjion,  and  led  by 
prefident,  has  not  herein  precipitated  us  into  far  greater  wickednefs 
{if  not  Witchcrafts)  than  any  have  been  yet  proved  againfi  thofe 
that  fuffered. 

To  be  able  to  difiinguijh  aright  in  this  matter,  to  which  of  thefe 
two  to  refer  our  Miferies  is  the  prefent  Work.  As  to  the  former, 
I  know  of  no  fob er  Man,  much  lefs  Reverend  Chriflian,  that  being 
ajk'd  dares  affirm  and  abide  by  it,  that  Witches  have  that  power ; 
viz.  to  CommiJJionate  Devils  to  kill  and  dejlroy.  And  as  to  the 
latter,  it  were  well  if  there  were  not  too  much  of  truth  in  it,  which 
remains  to  be  demonfirated. 

But  here  it  will  be  f aid,  what  need  of  Raking  in  the  Coals  that 
lay  buried  in  oblivion.  We  cannot  recal  thofe  to  Life  again  that 
have  fujfered,  fuppofing  it  were  unjujily;  it  tends  but  to  the  expofng 
the  ASiors,  as  if  they  had  proceeded  irregularly. 

Truly  I  take  this  to  be  juji  as  the  Devil  would  have  it,  fa 
much  to  fear  difobliging  men,  as  not  to  endeavour  to  detect  his  Wiles, 
that  fo  he  may  the  fooner,  and  with  the  greater  Advantages  fet  the 
fame  on  foot  again  {either  here  or  elfewhere)  fo  dragging  us  through 
the  Pond  twice  by  the  fame  Cat.^  And  if  Reports  do  not  {herein) 
deceive  us,  much  the  fame  has  been  aSiing  this  prefent  year  in  Scot- 
land. And  what  Kingdom  or  Country  is  it,  that  has  not  had  their 
bloody  fits  and  turns  at  it.  And  if  this  is  fuch  a  catching  difeafe, 
andfo  univerfal,  I  pre  fume  I  need  make  no  Apology  for  my  Endeav- 
ours to  prevent,  as  far  as  in  my  power,  any  more  fuch  bloody  Vi£iims  or 

5  That  is  by  the  fame  Cord,  or  to  the  Head  of  a  certain  bow  Tim  - 

Rope.     In  nautical  Ufage,  a  Rope  ber  to  which  it  was  faftened  by  the 

to  do  or  perform  a  certain  Service.  Cat  Rope  ;  hence  the  Timber  is 

The  Anchor  was  formerly  hoifted  called  the  Cat-head. 


8  'The  Preface  [4] 

Sacrifices ;  tho  indeed  I  had  rather  any  other  would  have  undertaken 
fo  offenfive^  tho  necejjary  a  tajk  ;  yet  all  things  weighed^  I  had  rather 
thus  Expofe  rnyfelf  to  Cenfure^  than  that  it  Jhould  be  wholly  omitted. 
Were  the  notions  in  quejiion^  innocent  and  harmlefs^  refpeSling  the 
glory  of  God^  and  well  being  of  Men^  I  Jhould  not  have  engaged  in 
them^  but  finding  them  in  my  ejieem^fo  intollerably  deJlruSlive  of  both. 
This  together  with  my  being  by  Warrant  called  before  the  Ju/iices^ 
in  my  own  fuji  Vindication^  I  took  it  to  be  a  call  from  God^  to  my 
Power^  to  Vindicate  his  Truths  againji  the  Pagan  and  Popifh 
Affertions.,  which  are  fo  prevalent;  for  tho  Chriflians  in  general  do 
own  the  Scriptures  to  be  their  only  Rule  of  Faith  and  Doifrine^  yet 
thefe  Notions  will  tell  us^  that  the  Scriptures  have  not  fufficiently^ 
nor  at  all  defcribed  the  crime  of  Witchcraft.,  whereby  the  culpable 
might  be  deteSfed^  tho  it  be  pofitive  in  the  Command  to  punijh  it  by 
Death  ;  hence  the  World  has  been  from  time  to  time  perplext  in  the 
profecution  of  the  feveral  Diabolical  mediums  of  Heathenijh  and 
Popijh  Invention.,  to  deteSf  an  Imaginary  Crime  {not  but  that  there 
are  Witches.,  fuch  as  the  Law  of  God  [4]  defcribesf  which  has 
produced  a  deluge  of  Blood ;  hereby  rendering  the  Commands  of  God 
not  only  void  but  dangerous. 

So  alfo  they  own  Gods  Providence  and  Government  of  the  World., 
and  that  Tempejis  and  Storms.^  JffliSiions  and  Difeafes  are  of  his 
fending ;  yet  thefe  Notions  tell  us,  that  the  Devil  has  the  power  of 
all  thefe.,  and  can  perform  them  when  commijfion^d  by  a  Witch 
thereto.,  and  that  he  has  a  power  at  the  Witches  call  to  a£i  and  do., 
without  and  againji  the  courfe  of  Nature.,  and  all  natural  caufes.^ 
in  ajffiiSiing  and  killing  of  Innocents  ;  and  this  is  that  fo  many  have 
died  for. 

^  It  will  elfewhere  be  feen  that  to  argue  that  Witches  never  would 

the   Author  makes  it  pretty  clear,  be  difcovered  by  it.  In  other  Words 

that   to   difcover  Witches   by  that  where  nothing  is  looked  for  nothing 

Law,   or  who  they  are,   has  never  will  be  found.     This   Subjeft  will 

been  done.     It  was  therefore  eafy  be  found  difcufled  elfewhere. 


[4-]  7Z^  Preface,  9 

Alfo  it  is  generally  believed^  that  if  any  Man  has  Jlrength^  it  is    j  , 
from  God  the  Almighty  Being :  but  thefe  notions  will  tell  us,  that    I 
the  Devil  can  make  one  Man  as  Jirong  as  many,  which  was  one  of 
the   befi  proofs,   as  it  was   counted,  againji  Mr.   Burroughs   the 
Minijler ;  tho  his  contemporaries  in  the  Schools  during  his  Minority 
could  have  tejiified,  that  his  Jirength  was  then  as  much  fuperior  to 
theirs  as  ever''  [fetting  afide  incredible  Romances)  it  was  difcovered 
to  be  fence.      Thus  rendering  the  power  of  God,  and  his  providence 
of  none  EffeSl. 

Thefe  are  fome  of  the  deflruSiive  notions  of  this  Age,  and  however 
the  afferters  of  them  feem  fometimes  to  value  themfelves  much  upon 
Jheltring  their  Neighbors  from  Spectral  Accufations.  They  may 
deferve  as  much  thanks  as  that  Tyrant,  that  having  indujlrioufey 
obtained  an  unintelligible  charge  againft  his  Subjects,  in  matters 
wherein  it  was  impojfible  they  Jhould  be  Guilty,  having  thereby  their 
lives  in  his  power,  yet  fuffers  them  of  his  meer  Grace  to  live,  and 
will  be  calfd  gracious  Lord. 

It  were  too  Icarian^  a  tafk  for  one  unfurnijh'd  zuith  neceffary 
learning,  and  Library,  to  give  any  Juji  account,  from  whence  fo 
great  delufeons  have  fprung,  and  fo  long  continued.  Tet  as  an 
Effay  from  thofe  fcraps  of  reading  that  I  have  had  opportunity  of; 
it  will  be  no  great  venture  to  fay,  that  Signs  and  Lying  Wonders 
have  been  one  principal  caufe. 

■''Samuel  Webber,  aged  about  36,  /em  Witchcraft  (by  Woodward)  ii, 

teftified   that  fome   feven   or   eight  113.     See  alfo  fundry  other  Tefti- 

Years  ago   he  lived   at  Cafco  Bay,  monies  about  Mr,  Burroughs's  great 

where  Mr.  B.  was  Minifter.     Hav-  Strength,  ib.,  123-5.      ^'^o   (Vol. 

ing  heard  much  ofhis  great  Strength,  I,  153,)    The  Wonders  of  the  In- 

and   coming  to  his  Houfe,   and  in  vifible  World. 
Difcourfe  about  it,   he  told  the  faid  s  The  Author's  claffical  Learning 

Webber  that  he  had  put  his  Fingers  was    probably   not   very  extcnfive. 

into  the  Bung  of  a  Barrel  of  "  Ma-  The   Ufe   of  this   mythical  Name 

lafes "  and  hfted  it  up  and  carried  however  may  have   been  according 

it  round  him.     See  Records  of  Sa-  to  its  Acceptation  in  his  Time. 


lo  The  Preface.  [5] 

//  is  written  o/'Juftin  Martyr,^  w;/?'^  lived  in  the  fecond  Century^ 
that  he  was  before  his  converjion  a  great  Philofopher ;  firjl  in  the 
way  of  the  Stoicks,  and  after ^  of  the  Peripateticks,  after  that  of 
the  Pythagorean,  and  after  that  of  the  Platoniftsy^^f?^;  and  after 
all  proved  of  Eminent  ufe  in  the  Church  of  Chriji ;  yet  a  certain 
Author  fpeaking  of  one  Apollonius  Tyaneus^"  has  thefe  words 
[That  the  moft  Orthodox  themfelves  began  to  deem  him  veiled 
with  power  fufficient  for  a  Deity ;  which  occafioned  that  fo 
ftrange  a  doubt  from  Jujiin  Martyr^  as  cited  by  the  learned 
Gregory^  Fol.  37.  Ei  ©sog^tfi  ^c.  If  God  be  the  creator  and 
Lord  of  the  World,  how  comes  it  to  pafs  that  Apollonius  his 
Telijms^  have  fo  much  over-ruled  the  courfe  of  things  !  for  we 
fee  that  they  alfo  have  ftilled  the  Waves  of  the  Sea;  and  the 
raging  of  the  Winds,  and  prevailed  againft  the  Noifome  Flies, 
and  Incurfions  of  wild  Beafts,]  ^c.  If  fo  Eminent  and  Early  a 
Chrijiian  were  by  thefe  falfe  Jhews  infuch  doubt ^  it  is  the  lefs  won- 
der in  our  depraved  times^  to  meet  with  what  is  Equivalent  thereto  : 
Befides  this  a  certain  Author  informs  me^  that  [Julian  {afterwards 
called  the  Apofiate)  being  inJiruSied  in  the  Philofophy  and  Difciplines 
of  the  Heathen^  by  Libarius  his  Tutor ^  by  this  [5]  means  he  came 
to  love  Philofophy  better  than  the  Gofpel^  and  fo  by  degrees  turned 
from  Chrijiianity  to  Heathenifm.~\ 

8  The  Reader  will  not  find,  as  he  it'  Apollonius  Thyaneus,  accord- 
has  a  Right  to  expeft,  this  Name  in  ing  to  Lempriere.  A  Pythagorian 
the  common  Biographical  Works.  Philofopher,  well  (killed  in  the  Arts 
In  the  largje  Work  of  Chaudon  et  of  Magic;  who,  "  one  Day  harangu- 
Delandine  is  a  fatisfaftory  Article  ing  the  Populace  at  Ephefus,  he 
under  the  Head  Justin;  who  was  a  fuddenly  exclaimed:  'Strike  the 
Martyr  of  the  fecond  Century;  yet  Tyrant,  ftrike  him;  the  Blow  is 
we  meet  with  the  Name  conftantly  given,  he  is  wounded  and  fallen  !* 
in  Hiftory,  as  Jujiin  Martyr;  At  that  very  Moment  the  Emperor 
Martyr  being  added  to  his  proper  Domitian  had  been  flabbed  at 
Name,  to  denote  that  he  had  fufFered  Rome.  The  Magician  acquired 
Martyrdom.  He  is  alfo  ftyled  St.  much  Reputation  when  the  Circum- 
Jujtin.  ftance  was  known." 


[5]  The  Preface,  ii 

This  fame  Julian  did^  when  Apoftate,  forbid  that  Chrijiians 
Jhould  be  inJiruSied  in  the  DifcipUne  of  the  Gentiles,  which  {it 
feems)  Socrates  a  Writer  of  the  Ecclefiajiical  Hijiory^  does  acknow- 
ledge to  be  by  the  ftngular  Providence  of  God;  Chrijiians  having 
then  begun  to  degenerate  from  the  Gofpel,  and  to  betake  themfelves 
to  Heathenijh  learning.  And  in  the  Mercury  for  the  Month  of 
February,  1695,  there  is  this  Account  [That  the  Chriftian  Doc- 
tors converfing  much  with  the  writings  of  the  Heathen^  for  the 
gaining  of  Eloquence.  A  Counfel  was  held  at  Carthage^  which 
forbad  the  reading  of  the  Books  of  the  Gentiles.'] 

From  all  which  it  may  be  eafily  perceived^  that  in  the  Primitive 
times  of  Chrijiianity^  when  not  only  ?nany  Heathen  of  the  Vulgar;  but 
alfo  many  learned  Men  and  Philofophers  had  imbraced  the  Chrijlian 
Faith ;  they  Jlill  retained  a  love  to  their  Heathen-le<irning^  to  which 
as  one  obferves  being  tranfplanted  into  a  Chrijiian  foils^foon  proved 
productive  of  pernicious  weeds^  which  over-ran  the  face  of  the 
Church,^  hence  it  was  fo  deformed  as  the  Reformation  found  it. 

Among  other  pernicious  Weeds  arifing  from  this  Root^  the  Doc- 
trine of  the  power  of  Devils  and  Witchcraft  as  it  is  now^  and  long 
has  been  underjlood.,  is  not  the  leajl;  the  Fables  of  Homer,  Virgil, 
Horace  and  Ovid,  &c.  being  for  the  Elegancy  of  their  Language 
retained  then  {and  fo  are  to  this  day)  in  the  fchools ;  have  not 
only  introduced.,  but  ejiablijhed  fuch  Doctrines  to  the  poifoning  the 
Chrijiian  World. " .  A  certain  Author  expreffes  it  thus  [that  as 
the  Chrijiian  Schools  at  firji  brought  Men  from  Heathenifm  to  the 
Gofpel^  fo  thefe  Schools  carry  Men  from  the  Gofpel  to  Heathenif?n, 
as  to  their  great  perfeSlion]  and  Mr.  I.  M.  in  his  Remarkable 
Providences,  gives  an  account  that  {as  he  calls  it)   an  old  Counfel 

11  Although  the  Stories  and  Fables  Minds   of  Scholars,  diey  ought   to 

of  former  Ages  may,  and  doubdefs  have  none  in  thefe  Times.     This, 

did,  at  the  Period  under  Confidera-  however,  will  depend  on  the  Intelli- 

tion,  have  a  bad  Influence  upon  the  gence  of  Teachers. 

F 


12  'The  Preface.  [5] 

did  Jnathematize  all  thofe  that  believed  fuch  power  of  the  Devils^ 
accounting  it  a  Damnable  DoSirine.^'^  But  as  other  Evils  did 
afterwards  increafe  in  the  Church  {partly  by  fuch  Education)  fo 
this  infenftbly  grew  up  with  them^  tho  not  to  that  degree^  as  that  any 
Counfel  I  have  ever  heard  or  Read  of  has  to  this  day  taken  off 
thofe  Anathema's ;  yet  after  this  the  Church  fo  far  declined^  that 
Witchcraft  became  a  Principal^  Eccleftajiical  Engine  {as  alfo  that 
of  Herefy  was)  to  root  up  all  that  Jiood  in  their  way  ;  and  befides 
the  ways  of  Tryal^  that  we  have  Jiill  in  praSfice^  they  invented fome.^ 
which  were  peculiar  to  themfelves ;  which  whenever  they  were 
minded  to  improve  againji  any  Orthodox  believer^  they  could  eafily 
make  EffeSiual :  That  Deluge  of  Bloody  which  that  Scarlet  Whore 
has  to  anfwer  for^  Jhed  under  this  notion^  how  amazing  is  it. 

The  firji  m' England  that  I  have  read  of  of  any  note  fince  the 
Reformation^  that  afferts  this  Do6irine^  is  the  famous  Mr.  Perkins, 
he  {as  alfo  Mr.  Gaul,  and  Mr.  Bernard,  hz.)  feems  all  of  them  to 
have  undertaken  one  Tafk.  They  taking  notice  of  the  Multiplicity 
of  irregular  ways  to  try  them  by^  invented  by  Heathen  and  Papifts^ 
made  it  their  bufmefs  and  main  work  herein  to  oppofe  fuch  as  they 
faw  to  be  pernicious.  And  if  they  did  not  look  more  narrowly  into  it.^ 
hut  followed  the  firji^  viz.  Mr.  Perkins  whofe  Education  {as  theirs 
alfo)  had  forefiaWd  him  into  fuch  belief  whom  they  readily  fol- 
lowed., it  cannot  be  wondered  at :  And  that  they  were  men  liable  to 
Err.,  and  fo  not  to  be  trujled  to  as  perfect  guides.,  will  manifejily 
appear  to  him  that  Jhall  fee  their  fever al  receits  laid  down  to  deteSi 
them  by  their  Prefumptive  and  Pofttive  ones.     And  conftder  how  few 

12  It  is  only  neceflary  to  obferve  Crown  izmo  or  a  i6mo.   by  John 

that  the  Title   of  Dr.  I.  Mather's  Ruffell  Smith,  London,  1856.  This, 

Work  is  An  Effny  for  the  Recording  I  think,  is  the  firft  Time  the  Work 

of  Ilhijlrious  Providences,  Sic.,-w\nch.  was   ever   reprinted.     It  fhows  the 

was  printed  in  a  1 2mo.  1684.   This  Author  not  lefs   fuperftitious  than 

Work  was  elegantly  reprinted  in  a  his  very  credulous  Son. 


[6]  The  Preface,  13 

of  either  have  any  foundation   in   Scripture  or   Reafon;  and  how 
vajily  they  differ  from  each  other  in  both,  each   having   his  Art  by 
himfelf  which  Forty  or  an  Hundred  more  may  as  well  imitate,  and 
give  theirs,  ad  infinitum,  being  without  all  manner  of  proof    [6] 
But  tho  this  be  their  main  deftgn  to  take  off  People  from  thofe  Evil 
and  bloody  ways  of  trial  which  they  /peak  fo  much  againji.      Tet 
this  does  not  hinder  to  this  day,  but  the  fame  evil  ways  or  as  bad  are 
Jiill  ufed  to  deteSl  them  by,  and  that  even  among  Protejiants  ;  and 
is  fo  far  jujiified,  that  a  Reverend  Perfon  has  /aid  lately  here,  how 
elfe  Jhall  we  deteSi  Witches  ?^'^     And  another  being  urged  to  prove 
by  Scripture  fuch  a  fort  of  Witch  as  has  power  to  fend  Devils  to- 
kill  men,  replied  that  he  did  as  firmly  believe  it  as  any  article  of  his 
Faith.     And  that  he  {the  Inquirer)  did  not  go  to  the  Scripture  ;  to 
learn  the  Myjieries  of  his  trade  or  Art.      What  can  be  f aid  more  to 
Ejiablijh  there  Heathenijh  notions  and  to  villifie  the  Scriptures,  our 
only  Rule;  and  that  after  we  have  feen  fuch  dire  effeSfs  thereof,  as 
has  threatned  the  utter  Extirpation  of  this  whole  Country. 

And  as  to  moji  of  the  ASlors  in  thefe  Tragedies,  tho  they  are  fo 
far  from  defending  their  Anions  that  they  will  readily  own,  that 
undue  Jleps  have  been  taken,  &c.  yet  it  feems  they  choofe  that  the 
fame  Jhould  be  ASied  over  again,  inforced  by  their  Example,  rather 
than  that  it  Jhould  Remain  as  a  Warning  to  Pojierity,  as  herein 
they  have  miji  it.  So  far  are  they  from  giving  Glory  to  God,  and 
taking  the  due  Jhame  to  themfelves. 

And  now  to  fum  up  all  in  a  few  words,  we  have  feen  a  Biggot- 
ted  Zeal,  Jiirring  up  a  Blind,   and  moJi  Bloody  rage,   not  againji 
Enemies,  or  Irreligious  proffligate  Perfons.      But  {in  Judgment  of 
Charity,  and  to  view)  againji  as  Vertuous  and  Religious  as  any  they 

13  It  would  perhaps  be  fruitlefs  to     jority  of  the  Community  being  of 
attempt  a  Conjefture  as  to  who  were     the   fame  Faith, 
the    Perfons   referred  to,   the  Ma- 


14.  The  Preface,  [6] 

:  have  left  behind  them  in  this  Country^  which  have  fuffered  as  Evil 
V^  doers  {with  the  utmoji  extent  of  rigour^  not  that  fo  high  a  Charac- 
ter is  due  to  all  that  Suffered)  and  this  by  the  Tejiimony  of  Vile 
Varlets  as  not  only  were  known  before^  but  have  been  further  appa- 
rent ftnce  by  their  Manifefi  Lives^  whordoms^  inceji^  l^c.  The 
accufations  of  thefe^from  their  Spectral  Sight ^  being  the  chief  Evi- 
dence againji  thofe  that  Suffered.  In  which  Accufations  they  were 
upheld  by  both  Magijirates  and  Minijiers^  fo  long  as  they  Appre- 
hended themfelves  in  no  Danger A'^ 

And  then  tho  they  could  defend  neither  the  DoSirine^  nor  the 
PraSfice^  yet  none  of  them  have  in  fuch  a  publick  manner  as  the 
cafe  Requires^  tefiified  against  either ;  tho  at  the  fame  time  they 
could  not  but  be  fenfible  what  a  Stain  and  lajiing  Infamy  they  have 
brought  upon  the  whole  Country,  to  the  indangering  the  future 
w  elf  air  not  only  of  this  but  of  other  places,  induced  by  their  Exam- 
ple ;  if  not,  to  an  int ailing  the  Guilt  of  all  the  Righteous  Blood 
that  has  been  by  the  fame  means  Shed,  by  Heathen  or  Papijis,  &c. 
upon  themfelves,  wh of e  deeds  they  have  fo  far  jujiified,  occafioning 
the  great  Dijhonour  and  Blafphemy  of  the  Name  of  God,  Scandal- 
izing the  Heathen,  hardning  of  Enemies ;  and  as  a  Natural  effeSt 
thereof,  to  the  great  Increafe  of  Atheifm. 

I Jhall  conclude  only  with  acquainting  the  Reader,  that  of  thefe 
ColleSlions,  the  firji  containing  more  Wonders  of  the  Inviftble 
World,  I  received  of  a  Gentleman,  who  had  it  of  the  Author,  and 
communicated  it  to  ufe,  with  his  exprefs  confent,  of  which  this  is  a 
true  Copy.^^     As  to  the  letters,  they  are  for  Subfiance  the  fame  I 

14  It  feems  that  for  fome  Time  it  received  the  Paper  from  Dr.  Ma- 
never  occurred  to  the  Rulers  that  ther  does  not  appear.  At  the  Time 
they  might  be  taken  for  Witches;  it  was  obtained,  the  Author  (Dr. 
or  "  cried  out  upon,"  as  the  Phrafe  Mather)  probably  had  no  Appre- 
ufed  to  be.  henfion  that  any  Expofition  was  to 

15  Who  the  Gentleman  was  that  follow.     The  very  vague  Note  in 


[6] 


The  Preface, 


15 


fent^  tho  with  fome  fmall  Variation  or  Addition.  Touching  the 
two  Letters  from  a  Gentleman  at  his  requeji^  I  have  forhorn 
naming  him.  It  is  great  Pity  the  matters  of  Faji,  and  indeed  the 
whole^  had  not  been  done  by  fome  abler  hana  better  Accomplijhed 
and  Advantages  with  both  natural  and  acquired  Judgments^  but 
others  not  Appearing^  I  have  inforc'd  myfelf  to  do  what  is  done^ 
my  other  occafions  Will  not  admit  any  further  Scrutiny  therein. 

R.  a 

Boflon  in  New-England.^  Aug  11.  1697. 


Proceedings  Mafs.  Hift.  Society  for 
18(58,  p.  288,  enlightens  the  Reader 
but  little.  It  is  faid  in  that  Note  — 
"He  [Mr.  Calef]  was  furniflied 
with  Materials  for  his  Work  by 
Mr.  Brattle,  of  Cambridge ;  and  his 
Brother  of  Bofton;  and  other  Gen- 
tlemen, who  were  oppofed  to  the 
Sakm  Proceedings."     This  Extraft 


is  figned  E.  P. ;  but  the  Editor  of 
the  Article  referred  to  makes  no 
Conjefture  as  for  whom  the  Initials 
ftand.  Perhaps  they  mean  Ebene- 
zer  Pemberton,  though  that  Gentle- 
man was  comparatively  a  young 
Man  in  1697;  old  enough,  how- 
ever, to  have  been  interefted  in 
thefe  Affairs. 


CDcmzzzizix 


[7]  The 
INDEX. 


A 


PART    I. 

MOTHER  Brand  plucked  out  of  the  Burning^  or  More 
Wonders  of  the  Invifihle  World;  written  by  Mr.  CM. 
relating  to  the  Affliaions  of  Margaret  Rule.  Page  i 


PART    II. 

A  Letter  to   Mr.   C.    M.   containing  a   Narrative  of  two    Vifits 
given  by  him  and  others  to  Margaret  Rule.  p.  13 

With    a  repetition  of  a  former  Letter  fent    to  him,  to  offer  a 
Meeting  with  him.  p.  10 

As    alfo    the  repetition  of  a  former  Letter,  requeuing  Informa- 
tion in  fame  DoSlrinalls  relating  to  Witchcraft.  Ibid 
A  Letter  of  Mr.  CM.  wherein  he  declines  fpeaking  to  thofe  Doc- 
trinalls ;  Denying  fome  parts  of  the  Narrative,  and  defending 
others.      The  feeling  the  Imp  owned.  Sec.                              P-  19 
The   Copy  of  a   Paper  Subfcribed  by  fever al,  tejlifying   Margaret 
Rule's  being  held  up  by  Invifible  Hands  from  the  Bed.        p.  22 
A  Letter  to  Mr.  CM.  relating  to  the  Narrative,  again  Praying, 
an  Anfwer  to  the  DoSirinalls                                                  P-  ^3 
The  Copy  of  a  Paper  Jhewing  what  Senfe  the  Indians  had  of  the 
Anions  here,  and  what  ejieem  they  had  thereby  taken  up  of  our 
Minijiers.                                                                                  P*  ^^ 


1 8  The  Index.  [8] 

A  Litter  to  Mr.  CM.  again  repeating  feveral  Fundamental  Doc- 

trinalls^  oppojite  to  the  DoSfrine  of  Witchcraft^  as  now  under- 

Jiood^  praying  his  Confirmation  or  Confutation  thereof  p.  26 

A  Letter  to  M^  CM.  [after  minding  him  of  his  promife^  viz.  To 
give  an  Anfwer  about  Do£irinalls)  feveral  Paffdges  quoted  in  his^ 
and  his  Relations  Books^  that  need  explaining.  p.  27 

A  Letter  to  M''  B.  relating  to  the  belief  of  Mr.  C  M.  which 
he  forbad  to  be  Coppyed.  p.  30 

[8]  A  Letter  to  the  Minifters  repeating  thofe  DoSfrinalls^  fent  to 
Mr.  CM.  for  his  Explanation.^  with  the  Summary  of  his  Be- 
lief contained  in  thofe  Papers.,  forbidden  to  be  Coppied ;  as  alfo 
other  DoSirinalls  oppofite  thereto.,  befeeching  them  to  give  their 
Confirmation  or  Confutation  thereof.  p.  33 

A  Letter  to  M^  S.  W.  relating  to  a  Dialogue  Written  by  him 
about  Witchcraft.,  and  to  a  Paper  fet  forth  by  the  Prefident^  &c. 
of  the  TJniverfity.,  about  Poffejfions  and  Enchantments.  p.  38 

A  Letter  to  Mr  CM.  relating  to  the  DoSirinalls  contained  in  a 
Book  of  Mr.  R.  B.  Printed  in  London  1691.  Some  of  the 
Heathen  Poets  Quoted  as  the  Fountain  or  Original  offuch  Doc- 
trinalls.  p.  43 

A  Letter  to  the  Minifters  mentioning  the  DoSfrine  of  the  Mani- 
fhees,  Demonjirating  that  the  prefent  Age  is  not  free  from  that 
Infection.,  repeating  neceffary  Articles  of  Faith  oppofite  thereto. 

p.  48 

A  Letter  to  Mr.  B.  W.  relating  to  the  Witches  Covenant,     p.  52 

PART    III. 

The  Reafons  given  by  fome  of  the  People  why  they  withdrew  from 
Communion^  iffc.  with  the  Church  at  Salem-Village,  and  from 
hearing  Mr.  Parris  their  Minijiery  in  whofe  Houfe  the  Trage- 
dies of  Witchcraft  begun.  P-  55 


[9] 


The  Index,  19 


Mr.  Samuel  Parrif's  Acknowledgement.  P-  57 

The  Advice  and  Determination  of  the  Elders  and  Mejfengers^  met 

at  Salem-Village,  to  Compofe  the  Differences  there.  p.  59 

A  Letter  from  the  People  of  the  Village  to  those  Elders  and  Mef- 

fengers  of  the  fever al  Churches.  p.  61 

Ajlate  of  the  Controverfie  between  Mr.  Parris  and  his  People,    p.  62 

A  Remonfirance^  with  further  Re afons  given  in  by  the  Attorneys  for 

the  People  of  the  Village  to  the  Arbitrators.,  againji  Mr.  Parris. 

P-  63 

PART    IV. 

A   Letter  of  a    Gentleman   endeavouring  to   prove    the   received 

opinions  about  Witchcraft.  p.  64 

An  Effay  to  the  Anfwer  thereof.  ?•  71 

A  Second  Letter  of  the  Gentleman's  further  urging  fuch  Doc- 
trines. P-  83 

A  Rejoinder  to  the  former  Anfwer.  P*  87 

« 

PART    V. 

An  Account  of  the  matters  of  Fa6i  at  Salem-Village,  ^c.  p.  90 
The  Examination  of  Mrs.  Gary.  p.  95 

The  Examination  of  Mr  John  Aldin.  p.  98 

Bifhop  alias  Oliver  Condemned.  p.  lOO 

An  AbfiraSi  of  the  Minijiers  Advice  to  the  Governour.  p.  lOi 
[9]  Sarah  Good,  Rebecca  Nurfe,  Sus.   Martin,  Eliz.  How  and 

Sarah  Wildes  Condemned.  p.  lOi 

The  Declaration  of  the   Foreman  of  the   fury.,  relating  to  words 

fpoken  by  Rebecca  Nurfe.  p.  102 

Rebecca  Nurfes  Interpretation  of  thefe  words.  p.  103 

M''  George  Burroughs,  John  Prober,  Eliz.  Prober,  John  Wil- 

lard,  George  Jacobs  and  Martha  Carryer  Condemned.  Ibid. 
A  Letter  o/"  John  Procter  to  the  Minijiers.  p.  104 

G 


20  The  Index.  [9] 

A  Letter  o/"  Margaret  Jacobs  to  her  Father.  p.  105 

Martha  Gary,  Mary  Eafty,  Alice  Parker,  Ann  Pudeater,  Dorcas 
Hore,  Mary  Bradbery,  Margaret  Scot,  W.  Red,  Samuel 
Wardwel,  Mary  Parker,  Abigail  Falkner,  Rebecca  Ernes, 
Mary  Lacy,  Ann  Fofter,  «K(^  Abigail  Hobs  Condemned,   p.  106 

Giles  Gary  Prejl  to  Death.  Ibid. 

A  Petition  o/'Mary  Eafty  to  the  'Judge.  p.  107 

A  Declaration  offome  that  had  confeji  themfelves  Guilty  (at  Ando- 
ver.)  p.  Ill 

The  Preface  of  Mr.  G.  M.  in  Wonders  of  the  Invifihle  World^  to 

his  Account  of  the  Tryals  of  five  of  thofe  that  were  Executed  at 

Salem.  P-  113 

The  whole  of  his  faid  Account,  with  one  Indidtment  added 

to  each  Tryal,  viz. 

The  Tryal  of  Mr.  Burroughs.  p.  1 14 

The  Tryal  of  Bridget  Bifliop.  p.  120 

The  Tryal  of  Sufanm  Martin.  p.  126 

The  Tryal  of  EWzaheth  How.  •  P-  ^33 

The  Tryal  of  Mzrtha.  Garryer.  p.  136 

The   Tryal  o/'Wardwes   IVife  at   the  firjl   Superior  Court  in 
Salem.  p.  141 

The  Tryal  of  Sarah  Dafton  at  Gharleftown.  Ibid. 

The  Tryal  of  Mzry  Watkins  t7^  Bofton.  p.  142 

The  Tryal  of  Mr.  Bennom  at  Hartford,  in  the  Collony  of  Con- 
neSiicut.  Ibid. 

A  Proclamation  for  a  Faji  in  the  Province  o/'Maflachufet.     p.  143 
The  Acknowledgement  of  fever al  Jury-Men^  relating  to  the  Con- 
demning offomefor  Witches.  p.  144 

A  Pojifcript  relating  to   a  Book  Intituled^  The  Life  of  Sir  W. 

Phips.  p.  145 

Therein   an   ObjeSiion  Anfwered^  viz.     But  what  are  there  no 

Witches?  p.   155 


^dbdbfl&^fLJj^J^Jiii^^i&^^iiii^ 


I  NOW   lay   before  you   a    very    Ejitertaining 
Story  y^^  a  Story  which  relates  yet  more  Won- 
ders of  the  Invilible  World,  a  Story  which 
tells  the  Remarkable  AfliBions  and  Deliverance  of 
one  that  had  been  Prodigioujly   handled  by  the  Evil 
Angels.     /  was  myfelf  a  daily  Eye  Witnefs  to  a 
large  part  of  thefe  Occurrences,   and  there  ?nay  be 
produced  Scores  of  Subjiantial  WitnelTes  to  the  7noJi 
of  them ;  yea,  I  know  not  of  any  one  Pajfage  of  the 
Story  but  what  may  be  fuficiently  attejied.     I  do  not 
Write  it  with  a    defign  of  throwing  it  prefently  into 
the  Frefs,  but  only  to  preferve  the  Memory  of  fuch 
Metnorable    things,    the  forgetting    whereof  would 
neither  be  pleafing  to  God,   nor  ufeful  to  Men ;  as 
alfo  to  give  you,  with  fome   others   of  peculiar  and 
obliging  Friends,  a  fight  of  fome  Curiofities,  and  I 
hope  this  Apology  will  ferve  to   Excufe  me,  if  I 
mention,  as  perhaps  I  may,  when  I  come  to  a  tenth 
Paragraph   in   t?iy   Writing,  fome  things  which  I 
would  have  omitted  in  a  farther  Publication. 

Cotton  Mather. 

i"This    fingular    "Story"  does  Neither  Farmer  nor  Savage  have  it 

not  appear  to  have  been  publiflied  in  their  genealogical  Works.      Yet 

by  its  Author,  nor  have  I  any  other  there  was  a  Family  living  for  fome 

Hiflory  of  it  than  is  found  in  thefe  Time  at  the  North  End  of  the  Name 

Pages.     Nor  do  I  find  anything  of  of  Rule.     They  may  not  have  been 

a  Family  of  the    Name   of  Rule,  long  refident.     See  Note  30. 


[i]  ANOTHER 


BRAND 


Pluckt  out  of  the 


BURNING, 

Or,  More  Wonders  of  the  Invilible  World. 


w 


Part  I.     Sediion  I. 
The  Affliaions  of  MARGARET  RULE. 
Ithin   thefe   few   years    there    died    in   the 


Southern  Parts  a  Chriftian  Indian,  who 
notwithftanding  fome  of  his  Indian  Weaknefs, 
had  fomething  of  a  better  Character  of  vertue 
and  Goodnefs,  than  many  of  our  People  can  allow 
to  moft  of  their  Country-men,  that  profefs  the 
Chrijlian    Religion^''     He    had    been    a    Zealous 

i''  There  were  two  noted  Chrif-  to  one  of  thefe,  probably,  that  the 

tian    Indians    on    Martha's    Vine-  Writer  refers.      See    Book    of  the 

yard  a  little  previous  to  the  Time  Indians,  B.  ii,  Ii8;  or  p.  182,  Edi- 

the  Above  was  written  ;  viz.,  Hia-  tion  1851.     See  alfo  Appendix  to 

coomes  and  John   Tokinojh.     It  is  Ek^.  Serm.  of  1698,  p.  90,  et  seq. 


24  -^^  Apparition  [2] 

Preacher  of  the  Gofpel  to  his  Neighbourhood, 
and  a  fort  of  Overfeer,  or  Officer,  to  whofe  Con- 
dud:  was  owing  very  much  of  what  good  order 
was  maintained  among  thofe  Profelited  Savages. 
This  Man  returning  home  from  the  Funeral  of 
his  Son,  was  complemented  by  an  EngliJhfJian, 
expreffing  Sorrow  for  his  Lofs;  now,  tho'  the 
Indians  ufe  upon  the  Death  of  Relations,  to  be 
the  mofi;  Paffionate  and  Outragious  Creatures  in 
the  World,  yet  this  Converted  Indian  Handfomly 
and  ChearfuUy  replid.  Truly  I  a?n  forry,  and  I  am 
not  forry ;  I  am  forry  that  I  have  Buried  a  dear 
Son ;  but  I  am  not  forry  that  the  will  of  God  is 
done.  I  know  that  without  the  will  of  God  my  fon 
could  not  have  died,  and  I  know  that  the  will  [2^  of 
God  is  always  juf  and  good,  and  fo  I  am  fatisjied. 
Immediately  upon  this,  even  within  a  few  hours, 
he  fell  himfelf  Sick  of  a  Difeafe  that  quickly 
kill'd  him ;  in  the  time  of  which  Difeafe  he 
called  his  Folks  about  him,  earneftly  perfwading 
them  to  be  Sincere  in  their  Praying  unto  God,  and 
beware  of  the  Drunkennefs,  the  Idlenefs,  the  Lying, 
whereby  fo  many  of  that  Nation  difgrac'd  their 
Profeffion  of  Chriftianity ;  adding,  that  he  was 
afhamed,  when  he  thought  how  little  Service  he 
had  hitherto  done  for  God ;  and  that  if  God 
would  prolong  his  Life  he  would  Labour  to  do 
better  Service,  but  that  he  was  fully  fure  he  was 
now  going  to  the  Lord  fefus  Chrijl,  who  had 
bought  him  with  his  own  Precious  Blood;  and  for 
his  part,  he  long'd  to  Die  that  he  might  be  with  his 


[A 


to  An  Indian,  25 


Glorious  Lord  ;  and  in  the  mid'ft  of  fuch  pafTages 
he  gave  up  the  Ghoft,  but  in  fuch  repute,  that 
the  Englijh  People  of  good  Fafliion  did  not  think 
much  of  Travelling  a  great  way  to  his  Interment. 
Left  my  Reader  do  now  wonder  why  I  have  re- 
lated this  piece  of  a  Story,  I  will  now  haften  to 
abate  that  Wonder,  by  telling  that  whereto  this 
was  intended,  but  for  an  IntroduBion :  know  then, 
that  this  remarkable  Indian  being  a  little  before 
he  Died  at  work  in  the  Wood  making  of  Tarr, 
there  appeared  unto  him  a  Black  Man,  of  a  Terri- 
ble afpedt,  and  more  than  humane  Dimenlions, 
threatning  bittterly  to  kill  him  if  he  would  not 
promife  to  leave  off  Preaching  as  he  did  to  his 
Countrey-Men,  and  promife  particularly,  that  if 
he  preached  any  7nore,  he  would  fay  nothing  of  Jefus 
Chriji  unto  them  ?  The  Indian  amaz'd,  yet  had 
the  courage  to  anfwer,  /  will  in  fpite  of  you  go  on 
to  preach  Chrift  more  than  ever  I  did,  and  the  God 
whom  I  ferve  will  keep  me  that  you  Jhall  never  hurt 
me.  Hereupon  the  Apparition  abating  fomewhat 
of  his  fiercenefs,  offered  to  the  Indian  a  Book  of  a 
confiderable  thicknefs  and  a  Pen  and  Ink,  and 
faid,  that  if  he  would  now  fet  his  hand  unto  that 
Book,  he  would  require  nothing  further  of  him ; 
but  the  Man  refufed  the  motion  with  indignation, 
and  fell  down  upon  his  knees  into  a  Fervent  and 
Pious  Prayer  unto  God,  for  help  againft  the 
Tempter,  whereupon  the  Demon  Vanifh't. 

This  is  a  Story  which  I  would  never  have  ten- 
dered unto  my  Reader,  if  I  had  not  Receiv'd  it 


26  Margaret  Rule  [3] 

from  an  honeft  and  ufeful  Englijh  MaUy^^  who  is 
at  this  time  a  Preacher  of  the  Gofpel  to  the  In- 
dians ;  nor  would  the  probable  Truth  of  it  have 
encouraged  me  to  have  tendered  it,  if  this  alfo 
had  not  been  a  fit  introduction  unto  yet  a  further 
Narrative. 

SeB.  2.  'Twas  not  much  above  a  year  or  two, 
after  this  Accident  (of  which  no  manner  of  Noife 
has  been  made)  that  there  was  a  Prodigious  de- 
fcent  of  Devils  upon  divers  places  near  the  Centre 
of  this  Province  ;  wherein  fome  fcores  of  Mifera- 
ble  People  were  Troubled  by  horrible  appearances 
of  a  Black-Man^  accompanied  with  SpeBres, 
wearing  thefe  and  thofe  Humane  Shapes,  who  of- 
fer'd  them  a  Book  to  be  by  them  lign'd,  in  token 
of  their  being  Lifted  for  the  Service  of  the  Devil, 
and  upon  their  [3]  denying  to  do  it,  they  were 
dragooned  with  a  thoufand  Preternatural  Torments, 
which  gave  no  little  terror  to  the  beholders  of 
thefe  unhappy  Energuments.  There  was  one  in 
the  North  part  of  Bojion  feized  by  the  Evil  An- 
gels many  Months  after  the  General  Storm  of  the 
late  Inchantments  was  over,  and  when  the  Coun- 
trey  had  long  lain  pretty  quiet,  both  as  to  Molef- 
tations  and  Accufations  from  the  INVISIBLE 
WORLD,  her  Name  was  Margaret  Rule,  a 
Young  Woman,  She  was  born  of  fober  and  honeft 
Parents,  yet  Living,  but  what  her  own  Character 
was  before  her  Vifitation,  I  can  fpeak  with  the 

1'5  Perhaps  Capt.  Thomas  Tup-      1698,  p.  95.     There  were  alfo  El- 
per.     See  Noyes^s  Ele£lmi  Ser7noj2,     dad  and  Samuel  T. — Sewall's  BISS. 


[3]  AffliEied.  27 

lefs  confidence  of  exa6lnefs,  becaufe  I  obferve  that 
wherever  the  Devils  have  been  let  loofe  to  worry 
any  Poor  Creature  amongft  us,  a  great  part  of 
the  Neighbourhood  prefently  fet  themfelves  to  in- 
quire and  relate  all  the  little  Vanities  of  their 
Childhood,  with  fuch  unequal  exaggerations,  as 
to  make  them  appear  greater  Sinners  than  any 
whom  the  Pilate  of  Hell  has  not  yet  Preyed 
upon :  But  it  is  affirm'd,  that  for  about  half  a 
year  before  her  Vilitation,  fhe  was  obfervably  im- 
proved in  the  hopeful  fymptoms  of  a  new  Crea- 
ture ;  She  was  become  furioully  concern'd  for  the 
everlafting  Salvation  of  her  Soul,  and  careful  to 
avoid  the  fnares  of  Evil  Company.  This  Young 
Woman  had  never  feen  the  affliction  of  Mercy 
Short^^"^  whereof  a  Narrative  has  been  already 
given,  and  yet  about  half  a  year  after  the  glorious 
and  lignal  deliverance  of  that  poor  Damfel,  this 
Margaret  fell  into  an  afflidion,  marvellous,  re- 
fembling  hers  in  almoft  all  the  circumftances  of 
it,  indeed  the  Afflictions  were  fo  much  alike,  that 
the  relation  I  have  given  of  the  one,  would  almoft 
ferve  as  the  full  Hiftory  of  the  other,  this  was  to 
that,  little  7nore  than  the  fecond  part  to  the  fame 
Tune ;  indeed  Margarets  cafe  was  in  feveral  points 
lefs  remarkable  than  Mercies^  and  in  fome  other 
things  the  Entertainment  did  a  little  vary. 

SeB.  3.   'twas  upon  the  Lords  Day  the  loth  of 
September,  in  the  Year  1693.  that  Margaret  Rule, 

1"  Nothing  is  learned  of  this  Per-     this  Work.     There    were    Perfons 
fon  beyond  what  is  to  be  found  in     early  at  Newbury  of  the  fame  Name. 

H 


28  The  Black  Man  [4] 

after  fome  hours  of  previous  difturbance  in  the 
Publick  AfTembly,  fell  into  odd  Fits,  which  caufed 
her  Friends  to  carry  her  home,  where  her  Fits 
in  a  few  hours  grew  into  a  Figure  that  fatisfied 
the  Spectators  of  their  being  preternatural ;  fome 
of  the  Neighbours  were  forward  enough  to  fuf- 
pe6t  the  rife  of  this  Mifchief  in  an  Houfe  hard- 
by,  where  lived  a  Miferable  Woman,  who  had 
been  formerly  Imprifoned  on  the  fufpicion  of 
Witchcraft,  and  who  had  frequently  Cured  very 
painfull  Hurts  by  muttering  over  them  certain 
Charms,  which  I  fhall  not  indanger  the  Poyfoning 
of  my  Reader  by  repeating.  This  Woman  had 
the  Evening  before  Margaret  fell  into  her  Ca- 
lamities, very  bitterly  treated  her,  and  threatn'd 
her ;  but  the  hazard  of  hurting  a  poor  Woman 
that  might  be  innocent,  notwithftanding  Surmizes 
that  might  have  been  more  ftrongly  grounded 
than  thofe,  cauf 'd  the  pious  People  in  the  Vicinity 
to  try  rather  whether  incelTant  Supplication  to 
God  [4]  alone,  might  not  procure  a  quicker  and 
fafer  Eafe  to  the  AffliBed,  than  hafty  Profecution 
of  any  fuppof'd  Criminal,  and  accordingly  that 
unexceptionable  courfe  was  all  that  was  ever  fol- 
lowed ;  yea,  which  I  look'd  on  as  a  token  for 
good,  the  Afflidted  Family  was  as  averfe  as  any 
of  us  all  to  entertain  thoughts  of  any  other 
courfe. 

Se5l.  4.  The  Young  Woman  was  alfaulted  by 
Fight  cruel  JpeBres,  whereof  flie  imagin'd  that 
fhe  knew  three  or  four,  but   the   reft   came   ftill 


[4.]  Defcrihed,  29 

with  their  Faces  cover  d,  fo  that  fhe  could  never 
have  a  diftinguilhing  view  of  the  countenance  of 
thofe  whom  llie  thought  Ihe  knew ;   fhe  was  very 
careful  of  my  reitterated  charges  to  forbear  blazing 
the  names,  left  any  good  Perfon  fhould  come_  to 
fuffer  any  blaft  of  Reputation  thro'  the  cunnmg 
Malice  of  the  great  Accufer ;   neverthelefs  having 
fince  privately  named  them  to  myfelf,  I  will  ven- 
ture to  fay  this  of  them,  that   they  are  a  fort  of 
Wretches,  who  for  thefe  many  years  have  gone 
under  as  Violent  Prefumptions  of  Witchcraft,  as 
perhaps  any  creatures  yet  living  upon  earth ;  al- 
tho'    I    am  farr   from  thinking  that  the   Vifions 
of  this  Young  Woman  were   Evidence    enough 
to  prove   them   fo.     Thefe   curfed   SpeBres  now 
brought   unto  her  a  Book  about  a   Cubet  long,  a 
Book  Red  and  thic^,  but  not  very  broad,  and  they 
demanded  of  her  that  fhe  would  fet  her  Hand  to 
that  Book,  or  touch  it  at  leaft  with  her  Hand,  as 
a  Sign  of  her  becoming  a  Servant  of  the  Devtl, 
upon    her    peremptory  refufal   to    do    what   they 
afked,  they  did  not  after  renew  the  profers  of  the 
Book  unto  her,  but  inftead  thereof,  they  fell  to 
Tormenting  of  her   in   a   manner  too  Hellifh  to 
be  fufhciently  defcrihed,  in  thofe  Torments  con- 
fining her  to  her  Bed,  for  juft  Six  weeks  together. 
SeB.    5.   Sometimes,  but   not   always  together 
with  the  SpeBres,  there  looke't  in  upon  the  Young 
Woman  (according  to  her  account)  a  port  and  a 
Black  Man,  whom    they  call'd    their    Mafter  — 
a  Wight   exactly   of  the   fame    Dimenfions   and 


30  Margaret  Rule,  [5] 

Complexion  and  voice,  with  the  Divel  that  has 
exhibited  himfelf  unto  other  infefted  People,  not 
only  in  other  parts  of  this  Country  but  alfo  in 
other  Countrys,  even  of  the  European  World,  as 
the  relation  of  the  Enchantments  there  inform 
us,  they  all  profeft  themfelves  Vaffals  of  this 
Devil,  and  in  obedience  unto  him  they  addrefs 
themfelves  unto  various  w^ays  of  Torturing  her ; 
accordingly  ihe  w^as  cruelly  pinch' d  with  Invifibk 
hands,  very  often  in  a  Day,  and  the  black  and 
blew  marks  of  the  pinches  became  immediately 
vifible  unto  the  ftanders  by.  Belides  this,  when 
her  attendants  had  left  her  without  fo  much  as 
one  pin  about  her,  that  fo  they  might  prevent 
fome  fear'd  inconveniencies ;  yet  fhe  would  ever 
now  and  then  be  miferably  hurt  with  Pins  which 
were  found  ftuck  into  her  Neck,  Back  and  Arms, 
however  the  Wounds  made  by  the  Pins  would  in 
a  few  minutes  ordinarily  be  cured ;  fhe  would 
alfo  be  ftrangely  diftorted  in  her  Joynts,  and 
thrown  into  fuch  exorbitant  Convulfions  as  [5] 
were  aftonifhing  unto  the  Spedlators  in  General ; 
They  that  could  behold  the  doleful  condition  of 
the  poor  Family  without  fenfible  compaffions, 
might  have  Intrals  indeed,  but  I  am  fure  they 
could  have  no  true  Bowels  in  them. 

Se5i.  6.  It  were  a  moft  Unchriftian  and  uncivil, 
yea  a  moft  unreafonable  thing  to  imagine  that 
the  Fitt's  of  the  Young  Woman  were  but  meer 
Impojiures :  And  I  believe  fcarce  any,  but  Peo- 
ple of  a  particular  Dirtinefs,  will  harbour  fuch  an 


[5]  Nine  Days  Fajl,  31 

Uncharitable  Cenfure/°  however,  becaufe  I  know 
not  how  far  the  Devil  may  drive  the  Imagination 
of  poor  Creatures  when  he  has  polTeflion  of  them, 
that  at  another  time  when  they  are  thefjifehes 
would  fcorn  to  Dijfembk  any  thing.  I  fhall  now 
confine  my  Narrative  unto  pafTages,  wherein  there 
could  be  no  room  left  for  any  Diffimulation.  Of 
thefe  the  iirft  that  I'll  mention  fhall  be  this; 
From  the  time  that  Margaret  Rule  firft  found 
herfelf  to  be  formally  befieged  by  the  SpeBres 
untill  the  Ninth  Day  following,  namely  from 
the  Tenth  of  September  to  the  Eighteenth,  fhe 
kept  an  entire  Faft,  and  yet  fhe  was  unto  all  ap- 
pearance as  Frefh,  as  Lively,  as  Hearty,  at  the  Nine 
Days  End,  as  before  they  began ;  in  all  this  time, 
tho'  fhe  had  a  very  eager  Hunger  upon  her  Sto- 
mach, yet  if  any  refrefhment  were  brought  unto 
her,  her  Teeth  would  be  fet,  and  fhe  would  be 
thrown  into  many  Miferies,  Indeed  once  or  twice 
or  fo  in  all  this  time,  her  Tormentors  permitted 
her  to  fwallow  a  Mouthful  of  fomewhat  that 
might  increafe  her  Miferies,  whereof  a  Spoonful 
of  Rum  was  the  mofl  confiderable ;  but  other- 
wife,  as  I  faid,  her  Faji  unto  the  Ninth  day  was 
very  extream  and  rigid :  However,  afterwards 
there  fcarce  palled  a  day  wherein  fhe  had  not 
liberty  to  take  fomething  or  other  for  her  Sujlten- 
tation.   And   I    mufl   add   this   further,   that  this 

2^  If  the  learned  Author  were  his  own  Matter,  as  being  a  more 
living  at  this  Day  he  would  doubt-  dirty  Work  than  any  he  then  com- 
lefs  gladly  blot  out  many  Pages  of     plained  of. 


32  Margaret  Rule.  [6] 

bufinefs  of  her  Faji  was  carried  fo,  that  it  was 
impoffible  to  be  dilTembled  without  a  Combination 
of  Multitudes  of  People  unacquainted  with  one 
another  to  fupport  the  Juggle,  but  he  that  can 
imagine  fuch  a  thing  of  a  Neighbourhood,  fo 
fill'd  with  Vertuous  People  is  a  bafe  man,  I  cannot 
call  him  any  other. 

SeB.  J.  But  if  the  Sufferings  of  this  Young 
Woman  were  not  Impojiure,  yet  might  they  not 
be  pure  Diftemper  ?  I  will  not  here  inquire 
of  our  Saducees  what  fort  of  Diftemper  'tis'  fhall 
ftick  the  Body  full  of  Pins,  without  any  Hand 
that  could  be  ieen  to  ftick  them  ;  or  whether  all 
the  Pin-makers  in  the  World  would  be  willing 
to  be  Evaporated  into  certain  ill  habits  of  Body 
producing  a  Dijiemper,  but  of  the  Dijiemper  my 
Reader  ftiall  be  Judge  when  I  have  told  him 
fomething  further  of  thofe  unufual  Sufferings.  I 
do  believe  that  the  Evil  Angels  do  often  take 
Advantage  from  Natural  Dijiempers  in  the  Chil- 
dren of  Men  to  annoy  them  with  fuch  further 
Mifchiefs  as  we  call  preternatural.  The  Malig- 
nant Vapours  and  Humours  of  our  Difeafed  Bodies 
may  be  ufed  by  Devils  thereinto  infinu[6]ating  as 
engine  of  the  Execution  of  their  Malice  upon 
thofe  Bodies ;  and  perhaps  for  this  reafon  one 
Sex  may  fuffer  more  Troubles  of  fome  kinds 
from  the  Invijible  World  than  the  other,  as  well  as 
for  that  reafon  for  which  the  Old  Serpent  made 
where  he  did  his  Jirjl  Adddrefs.  But  I  Pray 
what  will  you  fay  to  this,  Margaret  Pule  would 


[6]  Invifihle  Powder,  33 

fometimes  have  her  Jaws  forcibly'  pulled  open, 
whereupon  foniething  hivijible  would  be  poured 
down  her  throat ;  we  all  faw  her  fwallow,  and 
yet  we  faw  her  try  all  fhe  could  by  Spitting, 
Coughing  and  Shriking,  that  flie  might  not 
fwalow,  but  one  time  the  ftanders  by  plainly  faw 
fomething  of  that  odd  Liquor  itfelf  on  the  outlide 
of  her  Neck ;  She  cried  out  of  it  as  of  Scalding 
Brimjione  poured  into  her,  and  the  whole  Houfe 
would  Immediately  fcent  fo  hot  of  Brimjione  that 
we  were  fcarce  able  to  endure  it,  whereof  there 
are  fcores  of  WitneiTes ;  but  the  Young  Woman 
herfelf  would  be  fo  monftroully  Injlanid  that  it 
would  have  broke  a  Heart  of  Stone  to  have  feen 
her  Agonies,  this  was  a  thing  that  feveral  times 
happen'd  and  feveral  times  when  her  Mouth  was 
thus  pull'd  open,  the  ftanders  by  clapping  their 
Hands  clofe  thereupon  the  diflreffes  that  other- 
wife  followed  would  be  diverted.  Moreover  there 
was  a  whitijlo  powder  to  us  Invifible  fomtimes  caft 
upon  the  Eyes  of  this  Young  Woman,  whereby 
her  Eyes  would  be  extreamly  incommoded,  but 
one  time  fome  of  this  Powder  was  fallen  actually 
Vifible  upon  her  Cheek,  from  whence  the  People 
in  the  Room  wiped  it  with  their  Handkerchiefs, 
and  "fomtimes  the  Young  Woman  would  alfo  be 
fo  bitterly  fcorched  with  the  unfeen  Sulphur 
thrown  upon  her,  that  very  fenfible  Blijlers  would 
be  raifed  upon  her  Skin,  whereto  her  Friends 
found  it  necelfary  to  apply  the  OyVs  proper  for 
common  Burnings  but  the  moft  of  thefe  Hurts 


34  Margaret  Rule.  [7] 

would  be  cured  in  two  or  three  days  at  fartheft : 
I  think  I  may  without  Vanity  pretend  to  have 
read  not  a  few  of  the  beft  Syftem's  of  Phyjick^^ 
that  have  been  yet  feen  in  thefe  American  Regions, 
but  I  muft  confefs  that  I  have  never  yet  learned 
the  Name  of  the  Natural  Diflemper,  whereto 
thefe  odd  fymptoms  do  belong :  However  I  might 
fuggeft  perhaps  many  a  Natural  Medicine^  which 
would  be  of  fingular  ufe  againft  many  of  them. 

Se5i.  8.  But  there  fell  out  fome  other  matters 
far  beyond  the  reach  of  Natural  Dijie??iper :  This 
Margaret  Rule  once  in  the  middle  of  the  Night 
Lamented  fadly  that  the  SpeBres  threat'ned  the 
Drowning  of  a  Young  Man  in  the  Neighbour- 
hood, whom  fhe  named  unto  the  Company  :  well 
it  was  afterwards  found  that  at  that  very  time  this 
Young  Man,  having  been  preft  on  Board  a  Man 
of  War  then  in  the  Harbour,  was  out  of  fome 
diffatisfacStion  attempting  to  fwim  afhoar,  and  he 
had  been  Drowned  in  the  attempt,  if  a  Boat  had 
not  feafonably  taken  him  up ;  it  was  by  compu- 
tation a  minute  or  two  after  the  Young  Womans 
difcourfe  of  the  Drowning,  that  the  Young  Man 
took  the  Water;  At  another  time  flie  told  us 
that  [7]  the  SpeBres  bragg'd  and  laughed  in  her 
hearing  about  an  exploit  they  had  lately  done,  by 
ftealing  from  a  Gentleman  his  Will  foon  after  he 
had  written  it :  and  within  a  few  hours  after  flie 


21  Jt  would  be  curious,  if  not  ad-  poflefs  at  that  Time.  Doubtlefs 
mirable,  at  this  Day  could  we  know  Galen  and  Paracelfus  were  confpi- 
what  medical  Books  the  Dodtor  did     cuous  on  his  Shelves. 


[7]  Mar gaf^et  lifted  up.  35 

had  fpoken  this  there  came  to  me  a  Gentleman 
with  a  private  complaint,  that  having  written  his 
Willy  it  was  unaccountably  gone  out  of  the  way, 
how  or  where  he  could  not  Imagine ;  and  belides 
all  this,  there  were  wonderful  Noifes  every  now 
and  then  made  about  the  Room,  which  our  Peo- 
ple could  Afcribe  to  no  other  Authors  but  the 
SpeBreSy  yea,  the  Watchers  affirm  that  they  heard 
thofe  fiends  clapping  of  their  hands  together  with 
an  Audiblenefsy  wherein  they  could  not  be  Im- 
pofed  upon  :  And  once  her  Tormentors  pull'd 
her  up  to  the  Cieling  of  the  Chamber,  and  held 
her  there  before  a  very  Numerous  Company  of 
SpeBatorSy  who  found  it  as  much  as  they  could 
all  do  to  pull  her  down  again. ^^  There  was  alfo 
another  very  furprifing  circumftance  about  her, 
agreeable  to  what  we  have  not  only  read  in  feve- 
ral  Hifhories  concerning  the  Lnps  that  have  been 
Imployed  in  Witchcraft ;  but  alfo  known  in  fome 
of  our  own  afflidted :  We  once  thought  we  per- 
ceived fomething  Jiir  upon  her  pillow  at  a' little  dif- 
tance  from  her,  whereupon  one  prefent  laying  his 
hand  there ,  he  to  his  horror  apprehended  that  he 
felty  tho'  none  could  fee  it,  a  living  Creature,  not 
altogether  unlike  a  Rat,  which  nimbly  efcaf  d  from 
him :  and  there  were  diverfe  other  Perfons  who 
were  thrown  into  a  great  confternation  by  feeling, 
as  they  Judg'd,  at  other  times  the  fame  Invifble 
Animal. 

22  Mr.  Calef  has  not  commented     as  it  merited,  and  as  he  might  have 
fo  feverely  on  this  Part  of  the  Story     done  with  propriety, 

I 


36  A  White  Spirit.  [8] 

SeB.  9.  As  it  has  been  with  a  Thoufand  other 
Inchanted  People,  fo  it  was  with  Margaret  Rule 
in  this  particular,  that  there  were  feveral  words 
which   her    Tormentors  would    not  let   her   hear, 
efpecially  the  words  Pray  or  Prayer,  and  yet  fhe 
could  fo  hear  the  letters  of  thofe  words  diftindly 
mentioned   as  to  know  what  they  ment.     The 
ftanders  by  were   forced  fometimes   thus  in  dif- 
courfe  to  fpell  a  word  to  her,  but  becaufe  there 
were  fome  fo  ridiculous  as  to  count  it  a  fort  of 
Spell  or   a  Charm  for  any  thus  to  accommodate 
themfelves  to  the  capacity  of  the  Sufferer,  little 
of  this  kind  was  done.     But  that  which  was  more 
fingular  in  this  matter,  was  that  fhe  could  not  ufe 
thefe  words  in  thofe  penetrating  difcourfes,  where- 
with fhe  would  fometimes  addrefs   the    SpeBres 
that  were  about  her.     She  would  fometimes  for 
a  long  while  together  apply  herfelf  to  the  Spec- 
tres^ whom   fhe  fuppofed  the  Witches,  with  fuch 
Exortations  to   Repentance  as  would  have  melted 
an  Heart  of  Adamant  to  have  heard  them  ;  her 
ftrains  of  Expreffion  and  Argument  were   truly 
Extraordinary ;     A    perfon    perhaps    of  the    beft 
Education   and    Experience  and    of  Attainmejits 
much  beyond  hers  could  not  have  exceeded  them : 
neverthelefs  when  iTie  came  to  thefe  Words   God, 
Lord,  Chrijl,  Good,  Repent,  and  fome  other  fuch, 
her  Mouth  could  not  utter  them,  whereupon  flie 
would  fometimes  in  an  Angry  Parenthejis  com- 
plain of  their  Wickednefs  in  ftopping  that  Word, 
but  fhe  would  then  go  [8]   on  with  fome  other 


[8]  A  White  Spirit,  37 

Terjns  that  would  ferve  to  tell  what  fhe  ment. 
And  I  believe  that  if  the  moft  fufpicious  Perfon 
in  the  world  had  beheld  all  the  Circumftances  of 
this  matter,  he  would  have  faid  it  could  not  have 
been  diffembled. 

SeB.  10.  Not  only  in  the  Swedijh,  but  alfo  in 
the  Salem  Witchcraft  the  Inchanted  People  have 
talked  much  of  a  White  Spirit  from  whence  they 
received  marvellous  Affiftances  in  their  Miferies ; 
what  lately  befel  Mercy  Short  "-^  from  the  Com- 
munications of  fuch  a  Spirit,  hath  been  the  juft 
Wonder  of  us  all,  but  by  fuch  a  Spirit  was  Mar- 
garet Rule  now  alfo   vifited.     She  fays   that  fhe 
could  never  fee  his  Face ;  but  that  fhe  had  a  fre- 
quent view  of  his  bright,  Shining  and   glorious 
Garments;   he  flood  by  her  Bed-Jide  continually 
heartning  and   comforting  of  her  and  counfelling 
her  to  maintain  her  Faith  and  hope  in  God,  and 
never  comply  with  the  temptations  of  her  Adver- 
faries ;   fhe  fays  he  told  her,  that   God  had  permit- 
ted her  affliBions  to  befall  her  for  the  everlajiing  and 
unfpeakahle  good  of  her  own  foul,  and  for  the  good 
of  many  others,  and  for  his  own  Iminortal  Glory, 
and  that  Jhe  fliould  therefore  he  of  good  Chear,  and 
be  ajfured  of  a  fpeedy  deliverance ;  and  the  won- 
derful refolution  of  mind  wherewith  flie  encoun- 
tered her  Affliaions  were  but  agreeable  to  fuch 
expedations.      Moreover   a   Minifter   having  one 
Day  with  fome  Importunity  Prayed  for  the  de- 

••^3  Mr.  Savage  has  found  quite  a     us  no   Mercy  with  them.     See  his 
Number  of  Short  Famihes,  but  gives     Genealogical  Diaiunary. 


38  The  Black  Man  [8] 

liverance  of  this  ''Young  Woman,  and  pleaded 
that  fhe  belong'd  to  his  Flock  and  charge ;  he 
had  fo  far  a  right  unto  her  as  that  he  was  to  do 
the  part  of  a  Minifter  of  our  Lord  for  the 
bringing  of  her  home  unto  God ;  only  now  the 
Devil  hindred  him  in  doing  that  which  he  had  a 
right  thus  to  do,  and  whereas  He  had  a  better 
Title  unto  her  to  bring  her  home  to  God  than  the 
Divel  could  have  unto  her  to  carry  her  away 
from  the  Lord,  he  therefore  humbly  applied  him- 
felf  unto  God,  who  alone  could  right  this  matter, 
with  a  fuit  that  fhe  might  be  refcued  out  of 
Satans  Hands ;  Immediately  upon  this,  tho'  fhe 
heard  nothing  of  this  tranfadtion  fhe  began  to 
call  that  Minifter  her  Father,  and  that  was  the 
Name  whereby  fhe  every  day  before  all  forts  of 
People  diftinguifhed  him  :  the  occafion  of  it  fhe 
fays  was  this,  the  white  Spirit  prefently  upon  this 
tranfad:ion  did  after  this  manner  fpeak  to  her, 
Margaret,  .you  now  are  to  take  notice  that  (fuch  a 
Man)  is  your  Father,  God  has  given  you  to  him,  do 
you  from  this  time  look  upon  him  as  your  Father, 
obey  him,  regard  him  as  your  Father,  follow  his 
Counfels  and  you  fh all  do  well ;  And  tho'  there  was 
one  pafTage  more,  which  I  do  as  little  know  what 
to  make  of  as  any  of  the  reft,  I  am  now  going 
to  relate  it ;  more  than  three  times  have  I  feen  it 
fulfilled  in  the  Deliverance  of  Inchanted  and 
PolTeft  Perfons,  whom  the  Providence  of  God 
has  cafl  into  my  way,  that  their  Deliverance 
could  not  be  obtained  before  the  third  Faji  kept 


[9]  beats  the  SpeSires.  39 

for   them,   and   the   third   day  ftill   obtain'd   the 
DeHverance,  altho'  I  have  thought  of  befeeching 
of  the  Lord  thrice,  when  buffered  by  Sa[g]tan,  yet 
I  muft  earneftly  Intreat  all  my  Readers  to  beware 
of  any  fuperftitious   conceits   upon    the   Number 
Three,  if  our  God  will  hear  us  upon  once  Praying 
and  Falling  before  him  'tis  well,  and  if  he  will 
not  vouchfafe  his  Mercy  upon  our  thrice  doing  fo, 
yet  we  muft  not  be  fo  difcouraged  as  to  throw  by 
our  Devotion  but  if  the  Soveraign   Grace  of  our 
God  will  in  any  particular  Instances   count  our 
Patience  enough  tryed  when  we  have  Solemnly 
waited  upon  him  for  any  determinate  Number  of 
times,  who  fhall  fay  to  him,  what  doeft  thou,  and 
if  there  fliall  be  any  Number  of  Inftances,  where- 
in this  Grace  of  our  God  has  exadlly  holden  the 
fame  courfe,  it  may  have  a  room  in  our  humble 
Obfervations,  I   hope,  without  any  Superftition ; 
I   fay  then    that  after    Margaret  Rule   had  been 
more  than  five  weeks  in  her  Miferies,  this  White 
Spirit  faid   unto   her,   Well  this  day  fuch  a  Man 
(whom   he  named)  has  kept  a  third  day  for  your 
deliverance,  now  be  of  good  cheer  you  Jhall  fpeedily 
be  delivered.      I   inquired  whether  what  had  been 
faid  of  that  Man  were  true,  and  I   gained  exadt 
and  certain  information  that  it  was  precifely  io, 
but  I   doubt  left  in  relating  this   PalTage  that  I 
have  ufed  more  opennefs  than  a  Friend  ftiould  be 
treated  with,  and  for  that  caufe  I  have  concealed 
feveral    of   the  moft  memorable   things  that  have 
occurred  not   only  in   this  but  in   fome   former 


40  An  Evidence  of  the  [9] 

Hiftories,  altho  indeed  I  am  not  fo  well  fatisfied 
about  the  true  nature  of  this  white  Spirit,  as  to 
count  that  I  can  do  a  Friend  much  Honour  by 
reporting  what  notice  this  white  Spirit  may  have 
thus  taken  of  him. 

SeB.   II.    On   the   laft   day   of  the  Week  her 
Tormentors  as  fhe  thought  and  faid,  approaching 
towards  her,  would  be  forced  ftill  to  recoil  and 
retire   as   unaccountably  unable  to  meddle  with 
her,  and  they  would  retire  to  the  Fire  fide  with 
their  Poppets ;  but  going  to  ftick  Pins  into  thofe 
Poppets,  they  could  not  (according  to  their  vifions) 
make  the  Pins   to  enter,  fhe  infulted  over  them 
with  a  very  Proper  derilion,  daring  them  now  to 
do  their  worft,  whilft  fhe  had  the  fatisfad:ion  to 
fee  their  Black  Mafier  flrike  them  and  kick  them, 
like   an    Overfeer  of  fo   many   Negro's,   to   make 
them  to  do  their  work,  and  renew  the  marks  of 
his  vengeance  on  them,  when  they  failed  of  doing 
of  it.^'^    At  laft  being  as  it  were  tired  with  their 
ineffediual  Attempts  to  mortifie  her  they  furioufly 
faid.  Well  you  pant  be  the  laji.     And  after  a  paufe 
they  added.  Go,  and  the  Devil  go  with  you,  we  can 
do  no  more;  whereupon  they  flew  out  of  the  Room, 
and  fhe  returning  perfectly  to  herfelf  moft  affec- 
tionately gave  thanks  to  God  for  her  deliverance ; 
her  Tormentors  left  her  extream  weak  and  faint, 
and    overwhelmed    with   Vapours,   which  would 
not  only  caufe  her  fometimes  to  Swoon  away,  but 

24  This  Relation  is  pretty  neai'ly     Witches    by  Dr.   Horneck.     This 
equal  to  anything  told  of  the  Swedilh     Author  will  be  further  noticed. 


[lo]  being  of  a  God,  41 

alfo  now  and  then  for  a  little  while  difcompofe 
the  reafonablenefs  of  her  Thoughts ;  Neverthe- 
lefs  her  former  troubles  returned  not,  but  we  are 
now  waiting  to  fee  the  good  effects  of  thofe 
troubles  upon  the  Souls  of  all  concern'd,  And 
now  I  fuppofe  that  fome  of  our  Learned  wit-\^io\ 
lings  of  the  Coffee-Houfe,  for  fear  left  thefe  proofs 
of  an  Invijible-world  fhould  fpoil  fome  of  their 
fport,  will  endeavour  to  turn  them  all  into  fport, 
for  which  Buffoonary  their  only  pretence  will  be, 
they  cant  underjiand  how  fuch  things  as  thefe  could 
be  done  whereas  indeed  he  that  is  but  Philofopher 
enough  to  have  read  but  one  Little  Treatife,  Pub- 
lifhed  in  the  Year  1656,  by  no  other  Man  than 
the  Chyrurgion  of  an  Arfjiy,  or  but  one  Chap, 
of  Helmont,'^^  which  I  will  not  quote  at  this  time 
too  particularly,  may  give  a  far  more  intelligible 
account  of  thefe  Appearances  than  moft  of  thefe 
Blades  can  give  why  and  how  their  Tobacco  makes 
'em  Spit ;  or  which  way  the  flame  of  their  Can- 
dle becomes  illuminating,  as  for  that  cavil,  the 
world  would  be  undone  if  the  Devils  could  have  fuch 
power  as  they  feem  to  have  in  fever al  of  our  Jio- 
ries,^^  it  may  be  Anfwered  that  as  to  many  things 

25  Jean-Baptifte  Van-Helmont,  a  us  how  much  Power  the  Devil  has. 
Refident  of  Bruflels,  bom  in  1577.  By  fome  of  his  AiTertions  it  feems 
He  was  fo  noted  a  Phyfician  and  that  it  is  unlimited.  Indeed  he  (Dr. 
Naturahft,  that  he  was  reputed  a  Mather)  has  told  us  that  this  Con- 
Magician,  for  which  he  was  thrown  tinent  in  reality  belonged  to  the 
into  Prifon.  He  made  his  Efcape  Devil.  Ifthat  was  aftually  the  Cafe, 
and  fled  into  Holland,  where  he  died  it  certainly  was  an  infringement  on 
in  1644.  h's  Rights  for  Europeans  to  intrude 

26  The  Writer  nowhere  informs  themfelves  here  at  all. 


4-2  An  Evidence  of  the  [^^1 

the  Lying  Devils  have  only  known  them  to  be 
done,  and  then  pretended  unto  the  doing  of  thofe 
things,  but  the  true  and  beft  Anfwer  is,  that  by 
thefe  things  we  only  fee  what  the  Devils  could 
have  powers  to  do,  if  the  great  God  fhould  give 
them  thofe  powers,  whereas  now  our  Hiftories 
affords  a  Glorious  Evidence  for  the  being  of  a  God, 
the  World  would  indeed  be  undone,  and  horribly 
undone,  if  thefe  Devils,  who  now  and  then  get 
liberty  to  play  fome  very  mifchievous  pranks, 
were  not  under  a  daily  reftraint  of  fome  Almighty 
Superior  from  doing  more  of  fuch  Mifchiefs. 
Wherefore  inflead  of  all  Apifh  fouts  and  jeers  at 
Hiftories,  which  have  fuch  undoubted  confirma- 
tion, as  that  no  Man  that  has  breeding  enough 
to  regard  the  Common  Laws  of  Humane  Society, 
will  offer  to  doubt  of  'em,  it  becomes  us  rather 
to  adore  the  goodnefs  of  God,  who  does  not 
permit  fuch  things  every  day  to  befall  us  all,  as 
he  fometimes  did  permit  to  befall  fome  few  of 
our  miferable  Neighbours. 

SeB.  12.  And  what  after  all  my  unwearied 
Cares  and  Pains,  to  refcue  the  Miferable  from  the 
Lions  and  Bears  of  Hell,  which  had  fiezed  them, 
and  after  all  my  Studies  to  difappoint  the  Devils 
in  their  defigns  to  confound  my  Neighbourhood, 
muft  I  be  driven  to  the  neceffity  of  an  Apology? 
Truly  the  hard  reprefentations  wherewith  y^wd"  /// 
Men  have  reviled  my  conduB,  and  the  Countenance 
which  other  Men  have  given  to  thefe  reprefenta- 
tions, oblige  me  to  give  Mankind  fome  account 


[ii]  being  of  a  God.  43 

of  my  Behaviour ;  No  Chriftian  can,  I  fay  none 
but  evil  w^orkers   can   criminate   my  vifiting  fuch 
of  my  poor  flock  as  have  at  any  time  fallen  under 
the  terrible  and  fenfible  moleftations  of  Evil  An- 
gels;    let   their  Afflidtions  have  been  what  they 
vs^ill,    I    could    not    have   anfwered    it    unto    my 
Glorious  Lord,  if  I  had  withheld  my  juft  Counfels 
and    Comforts    from    them ;    and    if  I    have   alfo 
with  fome  exacftnefs  obferv'd  the  methods  of  the 
Invijible  World,  when    they    have    thus    become 
obfervable,  I  have  been  but  a  Servant  of  Mankind 
in  doing  fo ;  yea  no  lefs  a  Perfon  than  the  Vener- 
able Baxter,  has   more  than  once  or  twice  in  the 
moft  Publick  manner  invited  Mankind  to  thank 
11]  me  for  that  Service.     I  have  not  been  infen- 
ible  of  a   greater   danger   attending   me   in   this 
fulfilment  of  my  Miniftry,  than  if  I  had  been  to 
take  Ten  Thoufand  fteps  over  a  Rocky  Mountain 
fill'd  with   Rattle-Snakes ;   but  I   have  confider'd, 
he  that  is  wife  will   obferve  things,  and  the  Sur- 
prijing  Explication  and  confirmation  of  the  biggeji 
part  of  the   Bible,  which   I    have  feen    given    in 
thefe  things,  has  abundantly  paid  me  for  obferving 
them.     Now  in  my  vifiting  of  the  Miferable,  I 
was  always  of  this  opinion,  that  we  were  Igno- 
rant  of  what  Powers  the  Devils  might   have  to 
do  their  mifchiefs  in  the  fhapes  of  fome  that  had 
never  been  explicitly  engaged  in  Diabolical  Con- 
federacies,  and  that  therefore  tho'   many    Witch-   \ 
crafts  had  been  fairly  detedted  on  Enquiries  pro- 
voked and  begun  by  SpeBeral  Exhibitions,  yet  we 
K 


44  Glorious  Advantages,  [^^] 

could  not  eafily  be  too  jealous  of  the  Snares  laid 
for  us  in  the  devices  of  Satan ;  the  World  knows 
how  many  Pages  I  have  Compofed  and  Publifhed, 
and  particular  gentlement  in  the  Government 
know  how  many  Letters  I  have  written  to  pre- 
vent the  exceffive  Credit  of  SpeBeral  Accufations, 
wherefore  I  have  ftill  charged  the  AfliBed  that 
they  fhould  Cry  out  of  no  body  for  Afflidiing  of 
'em.  But  that  if  this  might  be  any  Advantage 
they  might  privately  tell  their  minds  to  fome  one 
Perfon  of  difcretion  enough  to  make  no  ///  life  of 
their  communications,  accordingly  there  has  been 
this  efFed:  of  it,  that  the  Name  of  No  one  good 
Perfon  in  the  World  ever  came  under  any  blemifh 
by  means  of  any  AfliBed^  Perfon  that  fell  under 
my  particular  cognizance,  yea  no  one  Man,  Woman 
or  Child  ever  came  into  any  troube  for  the  fake  of 
any  that  were  AfliBed  after  I  had  once  begun  to 
look  after  'em  ;  how  often  have  I  had  this  thrown 
into  my  difh,  that  many  years  ago  I  had  an  oppor- 
tunity to  have  brought  forth  fuch  People  as  have 
in  the  late  ftorm  of  Witchcraft  been  complain'd 
of,  but  that  I  fmother'd  all,  and  after  that  ftorm 
was  raif'd  at  Salem,  I  did  myfelf  offer  to  provide 
Meat,  Drink  and  Lodging  for  no  lefs  than  Six  of 
the  Afflidled,  that  fo  an  Experiment  might  be 
made,  whether  Prayer  with  Fafling  upon  the 
removal  of  the  diftreffed  might  not  put  a  Period 
to  the  trouble  then  riling,  without  giving  the  Civil 
Authority  the  trouble  of  profecuting  thofe  things 
which  nothing  but  a  Confcientious  regard  unto 


[i2]  Oppofers  Complained  of  .  45 

the  cries  of  Miferable  Families,  could  have  over- 
come the  Relud:ancies  of  the  Honourable  Judges 
to  meddle  w^ith  ;  ^^  In  fhort  I  do  humbly  but  freely 
affirm  it,  there  is  not  that  Man  living  in  this 
World  who  has  been  more  defirous  than  the  poor 
Man  I  to  jhelter  my  Neighbours  from  the  Incon- 
veniences of  SpeBeral  Outcries,  yea  I  am  very 
jealous  I  have  done  fo  much  that  way  as  to  Sin 
in  what  I  have  done,  fuch  have  been  the  Cow- 
ardize  and  Fearfulnefs  whereunto  my  regard  unto 
the  diffatisfadlions  of  other  People  has  precipi- 
tated me.  I  know  a  Man  in  the  World,  who 
has  thought  he  has  been  able  to  Convid:  fome 
fuch  Witches  as  ought  to  Dye,  but  his  refped:  unto 
the  Fublick  Peace  has  caufed  him  rather  to  try 
whether  He  [12]  could  not  renew  thetn  by  repent- 
ance :  and  as  I  have  been  Studious  to  defeat  the 
Devils  of  their  expectations  to  fet  people  together 
by  the  Ears,  thus,  I  have  alfo  checked  and  quell'd 
thofe  forbidden  curiofities,  which  would  have 
given  the  Devil  an  invitation  to  have  tarried 
amongft  us,  when  I  have  feen  wonderful  Snares 
laid  for  Curious  People,  by  the  fecret  and  future 
things  difcovered  from  the  Mouths  of  Damfels 
pojfeji  with  a  Spirit  of  divination ;  Indeed  I  can 

27  This  will  be  found  remarked  "  When  it  was  reprinted  at  London, 

upon  hereafter.    The  Author  makes  the  famous  Mr.  Baxter  prefixed  a 

a    large    Handle    of  Mr.   Baxter's  Preface  unto  it,    wherein  he   fays. 

Commendations  of  his  Story  of  the  '  This  great  Injlance  comes  with  fuch 

Goodwin  Children  ;    which   Story  convincing  Evidence,  that  he  mujl  be 

he  afterwards  printed  in  the  Mag-  a  very  obdurate  Sadducee,  that  wiU 

nalia,  Book  vi,  71,  &c.;  and  adds:  not  believe  it. ^^^ — Ibid.,-]^. 


46  Oppofers  Complained  of .  [12] 

recoiled:  but  one  thing  wherein  there  could  be 
given  fo  much  as  a  Shadow  of  Reafon  for  Excep- 
tions, and  that  is  my  allowing  of  fo  many  to  come 
and  fee  thofe  that  were  AffliBed;-^  now  for  that  I 
have  this  to  fay,  that  I  have  almoft  a  Thoujand 
times  intreated  the  Friends  of  the  Miferable,  that 
they  would  not  permit  the  Intruiion  of  any  Com- 
pany, but  fuch  as  by  Prayers  or  other  ways  might 
be  helpful  to  them ;  Neverthelefs  I  have  not  ab- 
folutely  forbid  all  Company  from  coming  to  your 
Haunted  Chambers,  partly  becaufe  the  Calamities 
of  the  Families  were  fuch  as  required  the  AfTift- 
ance  of  many  friends ;  partly  becaufe  I  have  been 
willing  that  there  fliould  be  dijinterejled  Witnejfes 
of  all  forts,  to  confute  the  Calumnies  of  fuch  as 
would  fay  all  was  but  Impojlure ;   and  partly  be- 
caufe I  faw  God  had  Sandified  the  Spedacle  of 
the  Miferies  on  the  Afflided  unto  the  Souls  of 
many  that  were  Spedators,  and  it  is  a  very  Glo- 
rious thing  that  I   have  now  to  mention  —  The 
Devils  have  with  moft  horrendous  operations  broke 
in  upon  our  Neighbourhood,  and  God  has  at  fuch 
a  rate  over-ruled  all  the  Fury  and  Malice  of  thofe 
Devils,  that  all  the  Afflided  have  not  only  been 
Delivered,  but  I  hope  alfo  favingly  brought  home 
unto  God,  and   the  Reputation  of  no  one   good 
Perfon   in   the   World,   has    been   damaged,   but 

28  It  was  befides  hinted  that  there  tempt  of  the  Sadducees  to  imphcate 

were  Times  when  the  Numbers  ad-  fome  one  who  might  be  rather  zeal- 

mitted  to    the   Afflidled   were    not  ous  to  deteft  Witchcraft  when  alone 

above   the /z?g-a/^r  Number.     But  with  the  Affliaed.    TheDodorwas 

this  was  doubtlefs  a  mifchievous  At-  very  indignant  at  this,  as  will  appear. 


[13]  Oppofers  Complained  of.  47 

inftead  thereof  the   Souls  of  many,  efpecially  of 
the   rifing   Generation,  have   been   thereby  awa- 
ken'd  unto  fome  acquaintance  with  Religion,  our 
young    People  who    belonged  unto  the   Praying 
Meetings  of  both   Sexes,  a  part  would  ordinarily 
fpend  whole  Nights  by  whole  Weeks  together  in 
Prayers    and    Pfalms    upon    thefe    occafions,    in 
which  Devotions  the   Devils  could  get  nothing 
but  like  Fools  a  Scourge  for  their  own  Backs,  and 
fome   fcores   of  other    young    People  who   were 
ftrangers  to  real  Piety,  were  now  ftruck  with  the 
lively  demonftrations  of  Hell  evidently  fet  forth 
before  their  Eyes,  when  they  faw  Perfons  cruelly 
Frighted,  wounded   and   Starved    by  Devils  and 
Scalded  with   burning  Brimjlone,  and  yet  fo  pre- 
ferved  in  this  tortured  eftate  as  that  at  the  end  of 
one  Months  wretchednefs  they  were  as  able  ftill 
to  undergo  another,  fo  that  of  thefe  alfo  it  might 
now  be  faid.   Behold  they   Pray  in  the  whole  — 
the  Devil  got  juft  nothing ;  but  God  got  praifes, 
Chrift  got  Subjedls,  the   Holy  Spirit  got  Temples, 
the  Church  got  Addition,  and  the  Souls  of  Men 
got  everlafling  Benefits ;  I  am  not  fo  vain  as  to  fay 
that  any  Wifdome  or  Vertue  of  mine  did  contri- 
bute unto  this  good  order  of  things :   But  I  am 
fo  juft,  as  to  fay  I  did  not  hinder  this  Good. [13] 
When  therefore  there  have  been  thofe  that  pickt 
up  little  incoherent  fcraps  and  bits  of  my  Dif- 
courfes  in  this  fruitful  difcharge  of  my  Miniftry, 
and  fo  traverfted  'em  in  their  abufive  Pamphlets, 
as  to  perfwade  the  Town  that  I  was  their  cofftmon 


4-8  A  Letter  to  Mr,  C.  M.  [13] 

'Enemy  in  thofe  very  points,  wherein,  if  in  any  one 
thing  whatfoever  I  have  fenfibly  approved  myfelf 
as  true  a  Servant  unto  'em  as  poffibly  I  could, 
tho  my  Life  and  Soul  had  been  at  Stake  for  it. 
Yea  to  do  like  Satan  himfelf,  by  fly,  bafe,  unpre- 
tending Injinuations,  as  if  I  wore  not  the  Modefty 
and  Gravity  which  became  a  Minifter  of  the 
Gofpel,  I  could  not  but  think  myfelf  unkindly 
dealt  withal,  and  the  negled:s  of  others  to  do  me 
jujlice  in  this  affair  has  caufed  me  to  conclude 
this  Narrative  with  complaints  in  another  hearing 
of  fuch  Monftrous  Injuries.^9 


PART  II. 


A  Letter  to  Mr,  C.  M. 

Bojion,  Jan.  wth^  1693. 

Mr.  Cotton  Mather, 

REverend  Sir,  I  finding  it  needful  on  many 
accounts,  I  here  prefent  you  with  the  Copy 
of  that  Paper,  which  has  been  fo  much  Mifrep- 
refented,  to  the  End  that  what  Ihall  be  found 
defedive  or  not  fairly  Reprefented,  if  any  fuch 
fhall  appear,  they  may  be  fet  right,  which  Runs 
thus. 

29  It  would  have  been  highly  gra-  negleft  of  others."  The  "  another 
tifying  had  the  Author  informed  his  hearing'^  will  be  found  explained  by 
Readers  what  he  meant   by  "  the     and  by. 


[t4-]         a  Letter  to  Mr,  CM.  49 

September  the  I'^th^  ^^92- 

IN  the  Evening  when  the  Sun  was  withdrawn, 
giving  place  to  Darknefs  to  fucceed,  I  with  foi7ie 
others  were  drawn  by  curiojity  to  fee  Margaret  Rule, 
andfo  much  the  rather  becaufe  it  was  reported  Mr. 

M would  be  there  that  Night :   Being  co??ie  to 

her  Fathers  Houfe^°  into  the  Cha?nber  wherein  fie 
was  in  Bed,  found  her  of  a  healthy  countenance  of 
about  feventeen  Tears  Old,  lying  very  Jlill,  and 
f peaking  very  little,  what  Jhe  did  fay  feenzd  as  if 
Jhe  were  Light-headed.  Then  Mr.  M  —  Father 
and  Son  3'  ca?7ie  up  and  others  with  them,  in  the  whole 
were  about  30  or  40  Perfons,  they  being  fat,  the 
Father  on  a  Stool,  and  the  Son  upon  the  Bedfde  by 
her,  the  Son  began  to  quejiion  her,  Margaret  Rule, 
how  do  you  do  ?  then  a  paufe  without  any  anfwer. 
Queftion.  What  do  there  a  great  many  Witches  ft 
upon  you?  Anfwer.  Yes.  Q.  T)o  you  not  know 
that  there  is  a  hard  Ma/ier?  Then  fhe  was  in  a 
Fit ;  He  laid  his  hand  upon  her  Face  and  Nofe, 
but,  as  he  faid,  without  perceiving  Breath ;  then  he 
brujl^d  her  on  the  Face  with  his  Glove,  and  rubbed 
her  Stomach  [her  breaf  not  covered  with  the 
Bedcloaths)  and  bid  others  do  fo  too,  and  faid  [i^^ 
it  eafed  her,  then  Jhe  revived.  Q.  Dont  you  know 
there  is  a  hard  Mafter?     A.    Tes.     Reply;   Dont 

30  The  Family  of  Rule  appear  tranfient  Sojourners  here.    Mr.  Ma- 
te have  refided  at  the   North  End  thcr  fays  Margaret's  Parents  were 
of  the  Town.      Where  they  came  fober  and  honeft,  and  living  at  the 
from,  or  what  became  of  them  does  Time  in   Bofton.     See  ante. 
not  appear.      They  were,  perhaps,  3'  Increafe  and  Cotton  Mather. 


50  A  Letter  to  Mr,  C.  M.         [14] 

ferve  that  hard  Majier,  you  know  who.     Q.   Do 
you  believe  ?     Then  again  Jhe  was  in  a  Fit,  and  he 
again  rub'd  her  Bre^,  &c.    {about  this  time  Mar- 
garet Perd  3^  an  attendant  ajfifted  him  in  rubbing  of 
her.     The    AffliBed  fpake    angerely  to  her  faying 
dont  you  meddle  with  me,  and  haftily  put  away  her 
hand)    he  wrought  his  Fingers  before  her  Eyes  and 
afied  her  if  Jhe  f aw  the  Witches?     A.    No.^     Q. 
Do  you  believe  ?  A.   Tes.     Q.  Do  you  believe  in  you 
know  who  ?     A.   Tes.     Q.    Would  you  have  other 
people  do  fo  too,  to  believe  in  you  know  who  ?     A. 
Tes.     Q.   Who  is  it  that  AffliBs  you  ?     A.   /  know 
not,  there  is  a  great  many  of  them   [about  this  time 
the  Father  queftiond  if  Jhe  knew  the  SpeBres  ?     An 
atteftdant  faid,  if  Jhe   did  Jhe  would  not  tell;   The 
Son  proceeded.)      Q.    Tou  have  feen  the  Black-man, 
hant you?     A.   No,  Reply,  /  hope  you  never  Jhall. 
Q.   Tou  have  had  a   Book  offered  you,  hant  you? 
A.   No.     Q.    The  brujhing  of  you  gives  you  eafe, 
don't  it?     A.    Tes.,    She  turn  d  herf elf e  and  a  little 
Groan  d.     Q.  Now  the  Witches   Scratch  you  and 
Pinch  you,  and  Bite  you,  dont  they  ?     A.   Tes,  then 
he  put  his  hand  upon  her  Breaji  and  Belly,  viz.  on 
the  Cloaths  over  her,  and  felt  a  Living  thing,  as  he 
faid,  which  moved  the  Father  alfo  to  feel,  andjlme 
others.     Q.   Dont  you  feel  the  Live  thing  in  the 
Bed?     A.   No.     Reply,  that  is  only  Fancie.     Q. 
the  great  company  of  People  increafe  your  Torment, 
don't  they  ?     A.   Tes.     The  People  about  were  de- 
fired  to  withdraw.      One  Woman  faid,  I  am  fur e  I 

3'  A  Name  not  met  with  beyond  this  Affair. 


[I+] 


A  Letter  to  Mr.  CM.  51 


am  no  Witch,  I  will  not  go ;  Jo  others,  fo  none  with- 
drew. Q.  Shall  we  go  to  Prayers,  Then  fhe  lay  in 
a  Fit  as  before.  But  this  tifne  to  revive  her,  they 
waved  a  Hat  and  brujhed  her  Head  and  Pillow 
therewith.  Q.  Shall  we  go  to  PRAT,  &c.  Spell- 
ing the  Word.  A.  Tes.  The  Father  went  to 
Pray  er  for  perhaps  half  an  Hour,^^  chiefly  againfl 
the  Power  of  the  Devil  and  Witchcraft,  and  that 
God  would  bring  out  the  AffliBers :  during  Prayer- 
tif?ie,  the  Son  flood  by,  and  when  they  thought  fhe 
was  'in  a  Fit,  rub'd  her  and  bruflid  her  as  before, 
and  beckned  to  others  to  do  the  like,  after  Prayer 
he  proceeded ;  Q.  Tou  did  not  hear  when  we  were 
at  Prayer,  did  you  ?  A.  Tes.  Tou  dont  hear 
always,  you  dont  hear  fometimes  pafl  a  Word  or 
two,  do  you '^  A.  No.  Then  turning  him  about 
faid,  this  is  jufl  another  Mercy  Short :  Mar- 
garet Perd  reply' d,  Jhe  was  not  like  her  in  her 
Fits.  Q.  What  does  Jhe  eat  or  drink  ?  A.  Not 
eat  at  all ;  but  drink  Rum.  Then  he  adinonijhed 
the  young  People  to  take  warning,  &c.  Saying  it 
was  a  fad  thing  to  be  fo  Tormented  by  the  Devil 
and  his  Inflruments  :  A  Toung-?nan  prefent  in  the 
habit  of  a  Seaman,  reply  d  this  is  the  Devil  all 
over.  Than  the  Minijiers  withdrew.  Soon  after 
they  were  gone  the  AjJliBed  deflred  the  Women  to 
be  gone,  faying,  that  the  Company  of  the  Men  was 
not  ofl^enflve  to  her,  and  having  hold  of  the  hand  of 

33 The  Doftor  was  greatly  difturb-     of  the  Prayer;  averring  that  it  was 
ed  at  this  Statement  of  the  Length     not  above  a  quarter  of  an  Hour. 

L 


52  A  Letter  to  Mr.  C.  M.        [15] 

a  Toung-man,  faid  to   have  been  her  Sweetheart 

formerly,   who    was  withdrawing ;  Jhe  pulfd  him 

again  into  his  Seat,  faying  he  Jhould  not  go  to  Night. 

[15]  September  the  igth,  1693. 

THIS  Night  I  renewed  my  Vifit,  and  found  her 
rather  of  a  frejher  Countenance  than  before, 
about  eight  Perfons  prefent  with  her,  Jhe  was  in  a 
Fit  Screeming  and  making  a  Noife :  Three  or  four 
Perfons  rub'd  and  brufii'd  her  with  their  hands, 
they  faid  that  the  brujhing  did  put  them  away,  if 
they  bruJFd  or  rub'd  in  the  right  place ;  therefore 
they  bruJJjed  and  rubbed  in  fever  al  places,  and  faid 
that  when  they  did  it  in  the  right  place  Jhe  could 
fetch  her  Breath,  and  by  that  they  knew.  She 
being  come  to  herfelf  was  foon  in  a  merry  talking 
Pit.  A  Young-man  came  in  and  ajk'd  her  how  Jhe 
did?  She  anfwered  very  bad,  but  at  prefent  a  little 
better  ;  he  joon  told  her  he  muji  be  gone  and  bid  her 
good  Night,  at  which  Jhe  J^eeni  d  troubled,  faying  that 
Jhe  liked  his  Company  ;  and  faid  Jhe  would  not  have 
hitn  go  till  Jhe  was  well ;  adding,  for  I  Jhall  Die 
when  you  are  gone.  Then  Jloe  co77iplained  they  did 
not  put  her  on  a  clean  Cap,  but  let  her  ly  fo  like  a 
BeaJi,Jaying  Jhe  Jhould  lofe  her  Fellows.  She  faid 
Jhe  wondered  any  People  Jhould  be  fo  Wicked  as  to 
think  Jhe  was  not  AJliSied,  but  to  think  Jloe  DiJfem- 
bled,  A  Toung-woman  anfwered  Tes,  if  they  were 
to  fee  you  in  this  merry  Fit,  they  would  fay  you  P>if- 
fe?nbled  indeed ;  She  reply' d,  Mr.  M —  faid  this 
was  her  laughing  tiine,  Jhe  mujt  laugh  now :  She  faid 


[i5]         A  Letter  to  Mr,  C.  M.  53 

l^f^  M  —  had  been  there  this  Evening,  and  jhe  en- 
quired, how  long  he  had  been  gon  ?     She  faid  he 
jlay'd  alone  with  her  in  the  room  half  an  Hour,  and 
faid  that  he  told  her  there  were  fome  that  came  for 
Spies,  and  to  report  about  Town  that  Jhe  was  not 
AffiiBed.     That  during  the  faid  time  Jhe  had  no 
Fit,  that  he  ajked  her  if  Jhe  knew  how  many  times 
he  had  Prayed  for  her  to  day?     And  that  Jhe  an- 
fwered  that  Jhe  could  not  tell;  and  that  he  replfd 
he  had  Prayed  for  her  Nine  times  to  Day;  the  At- 
tendants faid  that  Jhe  was  Jometimes  in  a  Fit  that 
none  could  open  her  foints,'^'^  and  that  there  came  an 
Old  Iron-jaw' d  Woman  and  try'd,  but  could  not  do 
it ;  they  likewife  faid,  that  her  Head  could  not  be 
moved  from  the  Pillow  ;    I  trfd  to  move  her  head, 
and  found  no  more   difficulty  than   another   Bodies 
[andfo  did  others)  but  was  not  willing  to  offend  by 
lifting  it  up,  one  being  reproved  for  endeavouring  it, 
they  Jay  ing  Angrily  you  will  break  her  Neck.     The 
Attendants  faid  Mr.  M  —  would  not  go  to  Prayer 
with  her  when  People  were  in   the  Room,  as  they 
did  one  Night  that  Night  he  felt  the  Live-Creature. 
Margaret  Perd  and  another,  faid  they  J  melt  brim- 
Jione;^^    I  and  others  faid  we  did  not  J  me  II  any  ; 
then  they  faid  they  did  not  know  what  it  was :  This 
Margaret  faid,  Jhe  wiJJfd  Jhe  had  been  here  when 
Mr.  M —  was  here,  another  Attendant  faid,  if  you 

-■1  The  general  Inference  would  of  his  Dominions  would  not  have 

naturally  be  that  the  Doftor's  Pray-  been  perceptible.     It  may  be  that 

ers  were  not  very  efFeftive.  he  did  not  make  his  Appearance, 

35  His  Satanic  Majefty  was  fup-  owing  to  the  Prefence  of  fome  ob- 

pofed  to  be  very  near,  or  the  Scent  durate  Unbelievers,     See  Note  3. 


54  A  Letter  to  Mr,  C.  M.  [i6] 

had  been  here  you  might  not  have  been  permitted  in, 
for  her  own  Mother  was  not  puffer ed  to  be  prefent. 

Sir,  after  the  foreft  Afflidiion  and  greateft  blem- 
ifli  to  Religion  that  ever  befel  this  Countrey,  and 
after  moft  Men  began  to  Fear  that  fome  undue 
fteps  had  been  taken,  and  after  His  Excellency 
(with  their  Majeftyes  Approbation  as  is  faid)  had 
put  a  Hop  to  Executions,  and  Men  began  [i6]  to 
hope  there  would  never  be  a  return  of  the  like ; 
finding  thefe  Accounts  to  contain  in  them  fome- 
thing  extraordinary,  I  writ  them  down  the  fame 
Nights  in  order  to  attain  the  certainty  of  them, 
and  foon  found  them  fo  confirmed  that  I  have 
(befides  other  Demonftrations)  the  whole,  under 
the  Hands  of  two  Perfons  are  ready  to  atteft 
the  Truth  of  it,  but  not  fatisfied  herewith;  I 
fhewed  them  to  fome  of  your  particular  Friends, 
that  fo  I  might  have  the  greater  certainty  :  But 
was  much  furprifed  with  the  MefTage  you  fent 
me,  that  I  fhould  be  Arrefted  for  Slander,  and  at 
your  calling  me  one  of  the  worfl  of  Lyars,  making 
it  Pulpit-news  with  the  Name  of  Pernicious  Li- 
bels, &c.     This  occafion'd  my  firft  Letter. 

September  the  2()th,  1693. 

Reverend  SIR, 

I  Having  written  from  the  Mouths  of  fever al 
Perfons,  who  affrm  they  were  prefent  with 
Margaret  Rule,  the  i  3  th  Infant,  her  Anfwers  and 
Behaviour,  &c.  And  having  Jhewed  it  to  feveral 
of  my  Friends,  as  alfo  yours,  and  underjianding you 


[i6] 


A  Letter  to  Mr.  CM.  55 


are  offended  at  it ;  This  is  to  acquaint  you  that  if 
you  and  any  one  particular  Friend^  will  pleaje  to 
meet  me  and  fome  other  Indifferent  P  erf  on  with  me, 
at  Mr.  Wilkinfs,  or  at  Ben  Harrifs,3'^j)/d?z^  intimatiiig 
the  time,  I  jhall  be  ready  there  to  read  it  to  you,  as 
alfo  a  further  Account  of  proceedings  the  1 9th 
Infant,  which  may  be  needful  to  prevent  Groundlefs 
prejudices,  and  let  deferved  blame  be  caji  where  it 
ought ;     From, 

Sir,  yours  in  what  I  may,  R.  C. 

The  effects  of  which.  Sir,  (not  to  mention 
that  long  Letter  only  once  read  to  me)  was,  you 
fent  me  word  you  would  meet  me  at  Mr.  Wil- 
kins's  but  before  that  Anfwer,  at  yours  and  your 
Fathers  complaint,  I  was  brought  before  their 
Majeflies  Juftice,  by  Warrant,  as  for  Scandalous 
Libels  againft  yourfelf,  and  was  bound  over  to 
Anfwer  at  Seffions ;  I  do  not  remember  you  then 
objecfled  againft  the  Truth  of  what  I  had  wrote, 
but  afferted  it  was  wronged  by  omiffions,  which 
if  it  were  fo  was  paft  any  Power  of  mine  to 
remedy,  having  given  a  faithful  account  of  all 
that  came  to  my  knowledge ;  And  Sir,  that  you 
might  not  be  without  fome  Cognizance  of  the 
reafons  why  I  took  fo  much  pains  in  it,  as  alfo 
for  my  own  Information,  if  it  might  have  been, 
I  wrote  to  you  my  fecond  Letter  to  this.effed:. 

Sf*  Richard  Wilkins    and  Benja-  of  Dunton's  Life  and  Errors.     Har- 

min    Harris  were   Bookfellcrs    and  ris  printed  The  Wonders  of  the  In- 

Publifhers  in  Bofton  at  this  Period,  v'lftble   World,  as  will  be  feen  on 

They  arc  duly  noticed  in  the  Hif-  reference  to   the    Title-page.     See 

tor-i  and  Antiquities  of  Dojion,  out  Thomas's  Iliji.  Printing,  ii,  412. 


56  A  Letter  to  Mr,  C.  M.         [17] 

November  the  24M,  1693. 

Reverend  SIR, 

HAVING  expeSied  fome  Weeks,  your  meeting  me 
at  Mr.  Wilkins  according  to  what  you  inti- 
mated to   me,  J.  M — and  the  time  drawing  near 
for  our  meeting  elfewhere,  I  thought  it  not  amifs  to 
give  you  a  Summary  of  my  thoughts  in  the  great 
concern,  which  as  you  fay  has  been  agitated  with  fo 
much  [17]  heat.      That  there  are  Witches  is  not  the 
doubt,  the  Scriptures  efe  were  in  vain,  which  afjign 
their   Puni/hment  to  be   by   death;   But  what  this 
Witchcraft  is,  or  wherein  it  does  confft,feems  to  be 
the  whole  dificulty :  And  as  it  may  be  eafly  demon- 
f  rated,   that  all  that  bear   that  Name   cannot   be 
jujily  fo  accounted,  fo  that  fome  things  and  ABions 
not  fo  efeemed  by  the  mofl,  yet  upon  due  examination 
will  be  found  to  merit  no  better  CharaBer. 

In  your  late  Book  you  lay  down  a  brief  Synopfis 
of  what  has  been  written  on  that  SubjeB,  by  a  Tri- 
umvirate of  as  Eminent  Men  as  ever  handled  it  37 
[as  you  are  pleafd  to  call  them)  viz.  Mr.  Perkins, 
Gaule,  and  Bernard  conf fling  of  about  30  Tokens 
to  know  them  by,  many  of  them  diflinB  from,  if  not 
thwarting  each  other :  Among  all  of  which  I  can 
find  hut  one  decifive.  Viz.  That  of  Mr.  Gaule, 
Head  I V.  and  runs  thus ;  Among  the  mofl  unhappy 
Circumflances  to  conviB  a  Witch,  one  is  a  maligning 
and  oppugning  the  Word,  Work,  or  Worfljip  of  God, 
and  by  any  extraordinary  Sign  fee  king  to  f educe  any 

^^  See  Vol.  i.  Page  37.   , 


[ly]  A  Letter  to  Mr,  C.  M.  57 

from  it,  fee  Deu.  13.  i,  2.  Mat.  24.  24.  Ads.  13. 
8,  10.  2.  Tim.  3.  8.  Bo  but  mark  well  the  places, 
and  for  this  very  property  of  thus  oppofing  and  per- 
verting, they  are  all  there  concluded  Arrant  and 
abfolute  Witches. 

This  Head  as  here  laid  down  and  infer  ted  by  you, 
either  is  a   Truth  or  not,  if  not,  why  is  it  here  in- 

fertedfrom  one  of  the  Triumvirate  if  it  be  a  Truth, 
as  the  Scriptures  quoted  will  abundantly  ^  tejlifie, 
whence  is  it  that  it  is  fo  little  regarded,  tho  it  be  the 
only  Head  well  proved  by  Scripture,  or  that  the  reft 
of  the  Tvi\xmYU2itQ  Jliould  fo  far  forget  their  Work 
as  not  to  mention  it.  It  were  to  be  unjuft  to  the 
Memory  of  thofe  otherwife  Wife  Men,  to  fuppofe 
them  to  have  any  Sinifter  defign ;  But  perhaps  the 

force  of  a  prevailing  opinion,  together  with  an  Edu- 
cation thereto  Suited,  might  overjhadow  their ^  Judg- 
ments, as  being  wont  to  be  but  too  prevalent  in  many 
other  cafes.  But  if  the  above  be  Truth,  then  the 
Scripture  is  full  and  plain.  What  is  Witchcraft  ? 
And  iffo,  what  need  of  his  next  Head  of  Hanging 
of  People  without  as  full  and  clear  Evidence  as  in 
other  Cafes?  Or  what  fieed  of  the  reft  of  the  Re- 
ceipts of  the  Triumvirate.^  what  need  of  Praying 
that  the  AffliBed  may  be  able  to  difcover  who  'tis 
that  Apsis  them  ?  or  what  need  of  Searching  for 
Tefsfor  the  Devil  to  Suck  in  his  Old  Age,  or  the 
Experiment  of  faying  the  Lord's  Prayer,  &c.  Which 
a  multitude  mvre  praBifed  in  fome  places  Superjh- 
tioufty  inclind.  Other  ABions  have  been  praBifed 
for  eafing  the  AffliBed,  lefts  juftifiable,  if  not  ftrongly 


58  A  Letter  to  Mr.  C.  M.  [i8] 

favouring  of  Witchcraft  itfef^  viz.  Fondly  Ima- 
gining by  the  Hand,  &c.  to  drive  off  Spedires,  or  to 
knock  off  Invifble  Chains,  or  by  Jiriking  in  the  Air 
to  Wound  either  the  AffliBed  or  others,  &c.  /  write 
not  this  to  accufe  any,  but  that  all  7nay  beware  be- 
lieving. That  the  Devil's  bounds  are  fet,  which  he 
cannot  pafs.  That  the  Devils  are  fo  full  of  Malice, 
That  it  can?iot  be  added  to  by  Mankind,  That  where 
he  hath  Power  he  neither  can  nor  will  omit  Exe- 
cuting it.  That  'tis  only  the  Almighty  that  fet  s  [i8] 
bounds  to  his  rage,  and  that  only  can  Commiffonate 
him  to  hurt  or  dejiroy  any. 

Thefe  laji.  Sir,  are  fuch  Foundations  of  Truth, 
in  my  efieem,  that  I  cannot  but  own  it  to  be  my  duty 
to  afcert  them,  when  called,  thd  with  the  hazard  of 
my  AIL^^  And  confequently  to  deteB  fuch  as  thefe. 
That  a  Witch  can  Commiffonate  Devils  to  AffiSi 
Mortals,  That  he  can  at  his  or  the  Witches  pleafure 
Affume  any  Shape,  That  Hanging  or  Drawing  of 
Witches  can  leffen  his  Power  of  AffiBing,  or  refore 
thofe  that  were  at  a  dijiance  Tormented,  with  fnany 
others  depending  on  thefe ;  all  tending,  in  my  efteem, 
highly  to  the  Dishonour  of  God,  and  the  Indangering 
the  well-being  of  a  People,  and  do  further  add,  that 
as  the  Scriptures  are  full  that  there  is  Witchcraft, 
(ut  fup.)yo  'tis  as  plain  that  there  are  Poffeffons, 
and  that  the  Bodies  of  the  Poffef  have  hence  been 
not  only  AffiBed,  but  ft  range  ly  agitated,  if  not  their 

•'-'  The  Author  feemed  to  be  fully  a  means  of  his  ruin,  as  to  any  con- 
aware  of  the  Danger  of  aflerting  liderable  Fortune.  See  Introduc- 
the  plain  Truth.     It  probably  was     tery  Memoir. 


[i8]         A  Letter  to  Mr.  C.  M.  59 

tongues  improved  to  foretell  futurities^  &c.  and  why 
not  to  accufe  the  Innocent,  as  bewitching  them; 
having  pretence  to  Divination  to  gain  credence. 
This  being  reafonable  to  be  expeBed^from  him  who 
is  the  Father  of  Lies,  to  the  end  he  tnay  thereby  in- 
volve a  Countrey  in  Blood,  Mallice,  and  Evilyfur- 
mifng  which  he  greedily  feeks  after,  and  fo  finally 
lead  them  from  their  fear  and  dependance  upon  God 
to  fear  him,  and  a  fuppofed  Witch  thereby  attaining 
his  end  upon  Mankind;  and  not  only  fo,  but  Natural 
Difiemper,  as  has  been  frequently  obferved  by  the 
Judicious,  have  fo  operated  as  to  deceive,  more  than 
the  Vulgar,  as  is  teflified  by  many  Fajnous  Phyfi- 
cians,  and  others.  And  as  for  that  proof  of  Mul- 
titudes of  ConfeJJions,  this  Countrey  may  be  by  this 
time  thought  Competent  fudges,  what  credence  we 
ought  to  give  them,  having  had  fuch  numerous  In- 
fiances,  as  alfo  how  obtain  d. 

And  now  Sir,  if  herein  be  any  thing  in  your 
efleem  valuable,  let  me  intreat  you,  not  to  account  it 
the  worfe  for  coming  frotn  fo  mean  a  hand ;  which 
however  y  ou  may  have  received  Prejudices,  &c.  A??i 
ready  to  ferve  you  to  my  Power ;  but  if  you  fudge 
other  wife  hereof  you  may  take  your  own  Methods  for 
my  better  Information.  Who  am.  Sir,  yours  to 
com?nand,  in  what  I  may,  P.  C.^^ 

In  Anfwer  to  this  lafl,  Sir,  you  replyed  to  the 
Gentleman  that  prefented  it,  that  you  had  nothing 

39  A  mifprint.      R.   C.  was   in-     in  the  Salem  Editions, 
tended.      The  Corredlion  is  made 

M 


6o  A  Letter  to  Mr.  C.  M.         [19] 

to  Profecute  againft  me ;  and  faid  as  to  your  Sen- 
timents in  your  Books,  you  did  not  bind  any  to 
believe  them,  and  then  again  renew'd  your  pro- 
mife  of  meeting  me,  as  before,  tho'  not  yet  per- 
formed. Accordingly,  tho'  I  waited  at  Seffions, 
there  was  none  to  obje6t  ought  againfl:  me,  upon 
which  I  was  difmiffed.  This  gave  me  fome  reafon 
to  believe  that  you  intended  all  (hould  have  been 
forgotten ;  But  inftead  of  that,  I  find  the  Coals 
are  frefh  blown  up,  I  being  fuppofed  to  be  repre- 
fented,  in  a  late  Manufcript,  More  Wonders  of  the, 
&c.  as  traverfing  your  Difcourfe  in  your  Faithful 
difcharge  of  your  Duty,  &c.  And  fuch  as  fee  not 
with  the  Authors  Eyes,  rendred  Saducees  and 
Witiins,'^°  &c.  and  the  Arguments  that  fquare  not 
with  the  Sentiments  [19]  therein  contain'd,  Buf- 
foonary ;  rarely  no  doubt,  agreeing  with  the  Spirit 
of  Chrift,  and  his  dealings  with  an  unbelieving 
Thomas,  yet  whofe  infidelity  was  without  compare 
lefs  excufable,  but  the  Author  having  refolved 
long  fince,  to  have  no  more  than  one  fingle  Grain 
of  Patience,  with  them  that  deny,  ^c  the  Won- 
der is  the  lefs.  It  mufl  needs  be  that  offences 
come,  but  wo  to  him  by  whom  they  come.  To 
vindicate  myfelf  therefore  from  fuch  falfe  Impu- 
tations, of  Satan-like  infinuations,  and  mifrepre- 
fenting  your  Adiions,  &c.  and  to  vindicate  your- 
felf.  Sir,  as  much  as  is  in  my  power  from  thofe 
fuggeftions,  faid  to  be  infinuated,  as  if  you  wore 

■10  Epithets  applied  by  Mr.  Mather     "  Flaihy  and  fleeting  Witlings." — 
to  thofe  who  diflented   from  him.     Remarka/>/esofDr.  I.  M.,  164. 


[19]  A  Letter 'to  Mr.  C.  M.  61 

not  the  Modefly,  and  Gravity,  that  becomes  a 
Minifter  of  the  Go/pel ;  which  it  feems,  fome  that 
never  faw  the  faid  Narratives,  report  them  to 
contain ;  I  fay,  Sir,  for  thefe  reafons,  I  here  pre- 
fent  you  w^ith  the  firfl:  Coppy  that  ever  was  taken, 
&c.  And  purpofe  for  a  Weeks  time  to  be  ready, 
if  you  fhall  intimate  your  pleafure  to  wait  upon 
you,  either  at  the  place  formerly  appointed,  or 
any  other  that  is  indifferent  to  the  End ;  that  if 
there  fhall  appear  any  defeats  in  that  Narrative, 
they  may  be  amended. 

Thus,  Sir,  I  have  given  you  a  genuine  account 
of  my  Sentiments  and  Actions  in  this  Affair ;  and 
do  requefl  and  pray,  that  if  I  err,  I  may  be 
fhewed  it  from  Scripture,  or  found  Reafon,  and 
not  by  quotations  out  of  Virgil,  nor  Spanijh 
'Rhetoricky  For  I  find  the  Witlings  mentioned, 
are  fo  far  from  anfwering  your  profound  queflions, 
that  they  cannot  fo  much  as  pretend  to  fhew  a 
diftincStion  between  Witchcraft  in  the  Common 
notion  of  it,  and  Poffeflion ;  Nor  fo  much  as  to 
demonftrate  that  ever  the  "Jews  or  primitive 
Chrijiians  did  believe,  that  a  Witch  could  fend  a 
Devil  to  Afflid:  her  Neighbours ;  but  to  all  thefe. 
Sir,  (ye  being  the  Salt  of  the  Earth,  &c.^  I  have 
reafon  to  hope  for  a  Satisfactory  Anfwer  to  him, 
who  is  one  that  reverences  your  Perfon  and  Of- 

4 1  Whittier  had,  no  doubt,  been  reading  Calef  recently,  when  he  wrote : 

"To  garnifh  the  Story,  with  hear  a  ftreak 
Of  Latin,  and  there  another  of  Greek : 
And  the  Tales  he  heard  and  the  Notes  he  took 
Behold  are  they  not  in  his  Wonder- Book  ?" 


62  A  Letter  to  Mr,  C.  M.  [20] 

fice ;  And  am.  Sir,  yours  to  Command  in  what  I 
may,  R.  C. 

Bojion,  "January  the  \^th,  169 1. 
Mr.  R.  C. 

WHEREAS  you  intimate  your  deiires,  that 
what's  not  fairly  (I  take  it  for  granted  you 
mean  truly  alfo,)  reprefented  in  a  Paper  you  lately 
fent  me,  containing  a  pretended  Narrative  of  a 
Vilit  by  my  Father  and  felf  to  an  Afflicted  Young 
woman,  whom  we  apprehended  to  be  under  a 
Diabolical  PoJfeJJion,  might  be  rediified :  I  have 
this  to  fay,  as  I  have  often  already  faid,  that  do  I 
fcarcely  find  any  one  thing  in  the  whole  Paper, 
whether  refped:ing  my  Father  or  felf,  either  fairly 
or  truly  reprefented.  Nor  can  I  think  that  any 
that  know  my  Parents  Circumftances,  but  mufl 
think  him  deferving  a  better  Character  by  far, 
than  this  Narrative  can  be  thought  to  give  him. 
When  the  main  defign  we  managed  in  [20]  Vifit- 
ing  the  poor  Afflidied  Creature,  was  to  prevent 
the  Accufations  of  the  Neighbourhood;  can  it 
be  fairly  reprefented  that  our  defign  was  to  draw 
out  fuch  Accufations,  which  is  the  reprefentation 
of  the  Paper.  We  have  Tefl:imonies  of  the  beft 
Witnefi^es  and  in  Number  not  a  few.  That  when 
we  afked  Rule  whether  fhe  thought  fhe  knew 
who  Tormented  her  ?  the  Quefi:ion  was  but  an 
Introduction  to  the  Solemn  charges  which  we 
then  largely  gave,  that  fhe  fhould  rather  Dye  than 
tell  the  Names  of  any  whom  fhe  might  Imagine 


[2o]         A  Letter  of  Mr.  C.  M.  63 

that  fhe  knew.  Your  Informers  have  reported 
the  Queftion,  and  report  nothing  of  what  fol- 
lows, as  eflential  to  the  giving  of  that  Queftion : 
And  can  this  be  termed  a  piece  of  fairnefs  ?  Fair 
it  cannot  be,  that  when  Minifters  Faithfully  and 
Carefully  difcharge  their  Duty  to  the  Miferable 
in  their  Flock,  little  bits,  fcraps  and  fhreds  of 
their  Difcourfes,  fhould  be  tackt  together  to  make 
them  contemtible,  when  there  fhall  be  no  notice 
of  all  the  Neceftary,  Seafonable,  and  Profitable 
things  that  occurr'd,  in  thofe  Difcourfes ;  And 
without  which,  the  occafion  of  the  lefler  PalTages 
cannot  be  underftood ;  and  yet  I  am  furnifhed 
with  abundant  Evidences,  ready  to  be  Sworn,  that 
will  poffitively  prove  this  part  of  unfairnefs,  by 
the  above  mention'd  Narrative,  to  be  done  both 
to  my  Father  and  felf.  Again,  it  feems  not  fair 
or  reafonable  that  I  fhould  be  expof'd,  for  which 
your  felf  (not  to  fay  fome  others)  might  have 
expof'd  me  for,  if  I  had  not  done,  viz.  for  dif- 
couraging  fo  much  Company  from  flocking  about 
the  Pofl^eft  Maid,  and  yet,  as  I  perfwade  myfelf, 
you  cannot  but  think  it  to  be  good  advice,  to 
keep  much  Company  from  fuch  haunted  Cham- 
bers ;  befides  the  unfairnefs  doth  more  appear,  in 
that  I  find  nothing  repeated  of  what  I  faid  about 
the  advantage,  which  the  Devil  takes  from  too 
much  Obfervation  and  Curiofity.'^^ 

4'^  With  this  View  of  the  Devil,  Way  of  becoming  one  of  his  de- 
the  Author  was  certainly,  according  luded  Followers  than  any  other  : 
to  his   own  Account,  more  in  the     "  Tis    a  moft  commendable  Cau- 


64  A  Letter  of  Mr.  CM.         [21] 

In  that  feveral  of  the  Queftions  in  the  Paper 
are  fo  Worded,  as  to  carry  in  them  a  prefuppofal 
of  the  things  inquired  after,  to  fay  the  befl  of  it 
is  very  unfair :  But  this  is  not  all,  the  Narrative 
contains  a  number  of  Miftakes  and  Falihoods ; 
w^hich  were  they  wilful  and  defign'd,  might  juftly 
be  termed  grofs  Lies.  The  reprefentations  are 
far  from  true,  when  'tis  affirm'd  my  Father  and 
felf  being  come  into  the  Room,  I  began  the  Dif- 
courfe ;  I  hope  I  underftand  breeding  a  little 
better  than  fo  :  For  proof  of  this,  did  occalion 
ferve,  fundry  can  depofe  the  contrary. 

'Tis  no  lefs  untrue,  that  either  my  Father  or 
felf  put  the  Queftion,  how  many  Witches  lit 
upon  you  ?  We  always  cautioully  avoided  that 
expreflion ;  It  being  contrary  to  our  inward  be- 
lief: All  the  ftanders  by  will  (I  believe)  fwear 
they  did  not  hear  us  ufe  it  (your  WitnefTes  ex- 
cepted) and  I  tremble  to  think  how  hardy  thofe 
woful  Creatures  muft  be,  to  call  the  Almighty  by 
an  Oath,  to  fo  falfe  a  thing.  As  falfe  a  repre- 
fentation  'tis,  that  I  rub'd  Rules  Stomach,  her 
Breaft  not  being  covered.  The  Oath  of  the 
neareft  Sped:ators,  giving  a  true  account  of  that 
matter  [21]  will  prove  this  to  be  little  lefs  than  a 
grofs  (if  not  a  doubled)  Lie  ;  and  to  be  fomewhat 
plainer,  it  carries  the  Face  of  a  Lie  contrived  on 
purpofe  (by  them  at  leaft,  to  whom  you  are  be- 

tioufnefs,"  he  tells  us  elfewhere,  "  to  tells  us,  we  come  al  length  to  be- 

be  very  fhy  left  the  Devil  get  fo  far  lieve  any  Lies,  wherewith  he  may 

into  our  Faith,  as  that  for  the  fake  abufe  us !  "     Faith   can   hardly  re- 

of  many  Truths  which  we  find  he  move  fuch  a  Mountain. 


[2i]  A  Letter  of  Mr,  C.  M.  65 

holden  for  the  Narrative)  Wickedly  and  Bafely  to 
expofe    me.      For    you    cannot    but    know   how- 
much    this    reprefentation    hath    contributed,    to 
make  People  believe  a  Smutty  thing  of  me ;    I 
am  far  from  thinking,  but  that  in  your  own  Con- 
fcience  you  believe,  that   no   indecent  A6tion  of 
that  Nature  could   then  be  done   by  me   before 
fuch  obfervers,  had  I  been  fo  Wicked  as  to  have 
been  inclin'd  to  what  is  Bafe.     It  looks  next  to 
impoffible  that  a  reparation  flioud  be  made  me 
for  the  wrong  done  to,  I  hope,  as  to  any  Scandal 
an  unblemifh'd,  tho'  weak   and  fmall   Servant  of 
the  Church  of  God.     Nor  is  what  follows  a  lefs 
untruth,  that  'twas  an  Attendant  and  not  myfelf 
who  faid,  if  Rule  knows  who  Afflifts  her,  yet  fhe 
wont  tell.      I  therefore  fpoke   it  that  I  might  en- 
courage her  to  continue  in  that  concealment  of 
all  Names  whatfoever ;  to  this  I  am  able  to  fur- 
nifh    myfelf  with    the   Atteftation    of   Sufficient 
Oaths.     'Tis  as  far  from  true,  that  my  apprehen- 
fion  of  the  Imp,  about  Rule,  was  on  her  Belly, 
for  the  Oaths  of  the  Spectators,  and  even  of  thofe 
that   thought   they  felt  it,  can   teftify  that  'twas 
upon  the  Pillow,  at   a   diftance  from  her  Body. 
As  untrue  a  Reprefentation  is  that  which  follows. 
Viz.  That  it  was  faid    unto   her,   that  her    not 
Apprehending  of  that  odd  palpable  tho'  not  vifi- 
ble.  Mover  was  from  her  Fancy,  for  I  endeavoured 
to  perfwade  her  that  it  might   be  but  Fancy  in 
others,    that    there    was  any   fuch    thing    at   all. 
Witnefles   every  way  fufficient  can  be   produced 


66  A  Letter  of  Mr.  C.  M.         [22] 

for    this    alfo.     'tis    falfely    reprefented    that  my 
Father  felt  on   the   Young-woman  after  the  ap- 
pearance mentioned,  for  his  hand  was  never  near 
her;    Oath  can  fufficiently  vindicate  him.     'Tis 
very  untrue,  that  my  Father  Prayed  for  perhaps 
half  an   Hour,  againft   the   power   of  the   Devil 
and  Witchcraft,  and  that   God  would   bring  out 
the  Afflid:ors.     WitnelTes  of  the  beft  Credit,  can 
depofe,  that  his   Prayer  was  not  a  quarter  of  an 
Hour,  and  that  there  was  no  more  than  about  one 
claufe  towards  the  clofe  of  the  Prayer,  which  was 
of  this  import ;  and  this  claufe  alfo  was  guarded 
with    a    fingular  warinefs   and   modefty,  viz. '  If 
there  were  any  evil    Inftruments   in  this  matter 
God  would   pleafe   to  difcover  them  :   And  that 
there  was   more   than   common  reafon   for   that 
petition  I  can  fatisfie  any  one   that  will  pleafe  to 
Inquire  of  me.     And  flrange  it  is,  that  a  Gentle- 
man that  from  18  to  54  hath  been  an  Exemplary 
Minifter  of  the  Gofpel ;  and  that  befides  a  ftation 
in  the  Church  of  God,  as  confiderable  as  any  that 
his  own  Country  can  afford,  hath  for  divers  years 
come  off  with  honour,  in  his  Application  to  three 
Crown'd  Heads,  and  the  chiefefl  Nobility  of  three 
Kingdoms,  knows  not  yet  how  to  make  one  fhort 
Prayer   of  a   quarter   of  an   hour,  but  in  New- 
England  he   muft  be  Libell'd  for  it.     There  are 
divers  other  down-right  miftakes,  which  you  [22] 
have  permitted  yourfelf,  I  would  hope,  not  know- 
ingly, and  with  a  Malicious  defign,  to  be  receiver 
or   Compiler   of,  which   I   fhall  now  forbear  to 


[22]         A  Letter  of  Mr,  C.  M.  67 

Animadvert  upon.     As  for  the  Appendix  of  the 
Narrative    I    do  find    myfelf  therein    Injurioufly 
treated,   for   the   utmoft  of  your  proof  for  what 
you  fay  of  me,  amounts  to  Httle  more  than,  viz. 
Some  People  told  you,  that  others  told  them,  that 
fuch  and  fuch  things  did  pafs,  but  you  may  affure 
yourfelf,  that  I  am  not  unfurnifh'd  with  WitnefTes, 
that  can  convi6t  the  fame.     Whereas  you  would 
give    me    to  believe   the    bottom  of  thefe   your 
Methods,    to    be  fome    difratisfad:ion    about   the 
commonly  receiv'd  Power  of  Devils  and  Witches ; 
I  do  not  only  with  all  freedom  offer  you  the  ufe 
of  any  part  of  my  Library,  which  you  may  fee 
caufe   to  perufe  on   that  Subjed;,  but  alfo  if  you 
and  any    elfe,  whom   you  pleafe,    will   vifit    me 
at  my  Study,  yea,  or  meet  me  at  any  other  place, 
lefs  inconvenient  than  thofe  by  you  propof'd ;   I 
will  with    all    the    fairnefs    and   calmnefs  in  the 
World  difpute  the  point.     I  beg  of  God  that  he 
would  beflow  as  many  Blefhngs  on  you,  as  ever 
on  myfelf,  and   out   of  a   fincere  wifh,  that  you 
may  be  made  yet  more  capable  of  thefe  Blefhngs, 
I  take  this  occafion   to  lay  before  you  the  faults 
(not  few  nor  fmall  ones  neither)  which  the  Paper 
contained,  you  lately  fent  me,  in  order  to  be  Ex- 
amined by  me.     In  cafe  you  want  a  true  and  full 
Narrative  of  my  Vifit,  whereof  fuch  an  indecent 
Traverfly  (to  fay  the  beft)  hath  been  made,  I  am 
not  unwilling  to  communicate  it,  in  mean  time 
muft    take   liberty   to   fay,    'Tis   fcarcely  confifl- 
ent  with  Common  Civility,  much  lefs  Chriflian 
N 


68  Tejiimonials,  [22] 

Charity,  to  offer  the  Narrative,  now  with  you, 
for  a  true  one,  till  you  have  a  truer,  or  for  a  full 
one,  till  you  have  a  fuller.  Your  Sincere  (tho' 
Injur'd)  Friend  and  Servant, 

C.  MATHER. 

'The  Copy  of  a  Paper  Receivd  with  the  above 

Letter, 

I  DO  Teftifie  that  I  have  feen  Margaret  Rule 
in  her  Afflid:ions  from  the  Invilible  World, 
lifted  up  from  her  Bed,  wholly  by  an  Invifible 
force,  a  great  way  towards  the  top  of  the  Room 
where  fhe  lay ;  in  her  being  fo  lifted,  fhe  had  no 
Affiflance  from  any  ufe  of  her  own  Arms  or 
Hands,  or  any  other  part  of  her  Body,  not  fo 
much  as  her  Heels  touching  her  Bed,  or  refting 
on  any  fupport  whatfoever.  And  I  have  feen  her 
thus  lifted,  when  not  only  a  flrong  Perfon  hath 
thrown  his  whole  weight  a  crofs  her  to  pull  her 
down ;  but  feveral  other  Perfons  have  endea- 
voured, with  all  their  might,  to  hinder  her  from 
being  fo  raifed  up,  which  I  fuppofe  that  feveral 
others  will  teftifie  as  well  as  myfelf,  when  call'd 
unto  it.     Witnefs  my  Hand, 

SAMUEL  AFES.^^ 


43  A  Family  of  this  Name  is  fup-  Savage  had  never  read  of  Samuel 

pofed  to  have  lived  at  the  Corner  Aves.     Whether  he  was  of  the  Fam- 

of  Lynn    Street  and   Henchman's  ily  of  John  Aves,  banifhed  for  at- 

Lane,  as    that  Corner    for  a   long  tempting  to  burn  the  Town  in  1679, 

Period  was  known  as  Aves's  Corner,  is  not  known. — Hiji.  Bojlon,  43 1. 


[23]  Tejlimonials.  69 

WE  can  alfo  Teftifie  to  the  fubftance  of  what 
is  above  Written,  and  have  feveral  times  feen 
[23]  Margaret  Rule  fo  lifted  up  from  her  Bed,  as 
that  fhe  had  no  ufe  of  her  own  Lims  to  help  her 
up,  but  it  was  the  declared  apprehenfion  of  us,  as 
well  as  others  that  faw  it,  impoffible  for  any 
hands,  but  fome  of  the  Invifible  World  to  lift 
her. 

ROBERT  EARLE.^ 
Copia  JOHN  WILKIN S. 

DAN.  WILLIAMS. 

WE,  whofe  Names  are  under- writted  do  tefti- 
iie.  That  one  Evening  when  we  were  in 
the  Chamber  where  Margaret  Rule  then  lay,  in 
her  late  Afflidiion,  we  obferved  her  to  be,  by  an 
Invifible  Force,  lifted  up  from  the  Bed  whereon 
file  lay,  fo  as  to  touch  the  Garret  Floor,  while  yet 
neither  her  Feet,  nor  any  other  part  of  her  Body 
refled  either  on  the  Bed,  or  any  other  fupport, 
but  were  alfo  by  the  fame  force,  lifted  up  from 
all  that  was  under  her,  and  all  this  for  a  confider- 
able  while,  we  judg'd  it  feveral  Minutes ;  and  it 
was  as  much  as  feveral  of  us  could  do,  with  all 
our  ftrength  to  pull  her  down.  All  which  hap- 
pened when  there  was  not   only  we  two  in  the 

*• '  Robert  Earl  was  the  Prifon-  Of  Williams,  no  certain  Trace  is 
keeper  or  Jailor  of  the  Town  at  an  found.  Their  Obfcurity  will  pro- 
early  Period.  John  Wilkins  was  bably  fhield  them  from  further  Ex- 
probably    the    Freeman   of    1673.  pofure. 


70  A  Letter  to  Mr,  C.  M.         [23] 

Chamber,  but  we  fuppofe  ten  or  a  dozen  more, 
whofe  Names  we  have  forgotten, 

Copia  THOMAS  THORNTON.^^ 

WilHam  Hudfon'^^  Tejiifies  to  the  fubjiance  of 
Thorntons  Tejiimony,  to  which  he  alfo  hath  fet  his 
Hand. 

Bofion,  January  18,  1693. 
Mr.  Cotton  Mather, 
Reverend  SIR, 

YOURS  of  the  I  ^th  Inftant,  I  receiv'd  yefter- 
day ;  and  foon  found  I  had  promifed  myfelf 
too  much  by  it,  viz.  Either  concurrence  with,  or 
a  denial  of  thofe  Fundamentals  mentioned  in 
mine,  of  Novemb.  the  24/-^.  finding  this  waved 
by  an  Invitation  to  your  Library,  &c.  I  thank 
God  I  have  the  Bible,  and  do  Judge  that  fufficient 
to  demonftrate  that  cited  Head  of  Mr,  Gaule,  to 
be  a  Truth,  as  alfo  thofe  other  Heads  mentioned, 
as  the  Foundations  of  Religion.  And  in  my  ap- 
prehenfion,  if  it  be  afked  any  Chriftian,  whether 
God  governs  the  World,  and  whether  it  be  he 
only  can  Commiffionate  Devils,  and  fuch  other 
Fundamentals,  He  ought  to  be  as  ready  as  in  the 
Queftion,  who  made  him  ?  (a  little  Writing  cer- 
tainly might  be  of  more  ufe,  to  clear  up  the  con- 
troverted points,  than  either  looking  over  many 

45  Son  of  Timothy  Thornton.  ^6  Perhaps  Son  of  the  firft  Wil- 
His  Occupation  was  that  of  a  Pa-  liam  Hudfon,  one  of  the  firft  Set- 
ver,  tiers  of  Bofton, 


[2+] 


A  Letter  to  Mr,  CM.  71 


Books  in  a  well  furnifh'd  Library,  or  than  a  dif- 
pute,  if  I  were  qualified  for  it ;  the  Inconvenien- 
cies  of  Paffion  being  this  way  befl  avoided)  And 
am  not  without  hopes  that  you  will  yet  oblige 
me  fo  far,  as  to  confider  that  Letter,  and  if  I  Err, 
to  let  me  fee  it  by  Scripture,  <£?<:. 

Yours,  almoft  the  whole  of  it,  is  concerning 
the  Narrative  I  fent  to  you,  and  you  feem  to  inti- 
mate as  if  I  were  giving  Characters,  Refle6li-[24 
ons,  and  Libell's,  &c.  concerning  yourfelf  anc. 
Relations ;  all  which  'were  as  far  from  my 
thoughts,  as  ever  they  were  in  writing  after  either 
yourfelf,  or  any  other  Minifter.  In  the  front  you 
declare  your  apprehenfion  to  be,  that  the  Afflicted 
was  under  a  Diabolical  Poffeffion,  and  if  fo,  I  fee 
not  how  it  fhould  be  occafion'd  by  any  Witch- 
craft (unlefs  we  afcribe  that  Power  to  a  Witch, 
which  is  only  the  Prerogative  of  the  Almighty, 
of  Sending  or  Commiffionating  the  Devils  to 
Affli6t  her.)  But  to  your  particular  Objections 
againft  the  Narrative ;  and  to  the  firfl  my  intel- 
ligence not  giving  me  any  further,  I  could  not 
infert  that  I  knew  not.  And  it  feems  improbable 
that  a  Queftion  fliould  be  put,  whether  fhe  knew 
(or  rather  who  they  were)  and  at  the  fame  time 
to  charge  her,  and  that  upon  her  Life,  not  to  tell, 
and  if  you  had  done  fo,  I  fee  but  little  good  you 
could  promife  yourfelf  or  others  by  it,  fhe  being 
Polfeft,  as  alfo  having  it  inculcated  fo  much  to 
her  of  Witchcraft.  And  as  to  the  next  Objedtion 
about  company   flocking,   ^c.    I  do  profefs  my 


72  A  Letter  to  Mr.  C.  M.         [24] 

Ignorance,  not  knowing  what  you  mean  by  it. 
And  Sir,  that  moil  of  the  Queflions  did  carry 
with  them  a  prefuppofing  the  things  inquired 
after,  is  evident,  if  there  were  fuch  as  thofe 
relating  to  the  Black-man  and  a  Book,  and  about 
her  hearing  the  Prayer,  &c.  (related  in  the  faid 
Narrative,  which  I  find  no  Obje6lion  againft.) 
As  to  that  which  is  faid  of  mentioning  yourfelf 
firft  difcourfings  and  your  hopes  that  your  breed- 
ing was  better  (I  doubt  it  not)  nor  do  I  doubt 
your  Father  might  firfi:  •  apply  himfelf  to  others  ; 
but  my  intelligence  is,  that  you  firft  fpake  to  the 
Afflidted  or  Pofi^effed,  for  which  you  had  the  ad- 
vantage of  a  nearer  approach.  The  next  two 
Objections  are  founded  upon  miftakes  :  I  find 
not  in  the  Narrative  any  fuch  Queftion,  as 
how  many  Witches  fit  upon  you  ?  and  that  her 
Breafi:  was  not  covered,  in  which  thofe  material 
words,  (with  the  Bed-Cloaths)  are  wholly  omit- 
ted ;  I  am  not  willing  to  retort  here  your  own 
Language  upon  you ;  but  can  tell  you,  that  your 
own  difcourfe  of  it  publickly,  at  Sir  W.  P's  Table, 
has  much  more  contributed  to,  ^c.  As  to  the 
Reply,  if  fhe  could  fhe  would  not  tell,  whether 
either  or  both  fpake  it  it  matters  not  much. 
Neither  does  the  Narrative  fay  you  felt  the  live 
thing  on  her  Belly ;  tho  I  omit  now  to  fay  what 
further  demonfi:rations  there  are  of  it.  As  to 
that  Reply,  that  is  only  her  fancy,  I  find  the 
word  (her)  added.  And  as  to  your  Fathers  feel- 
ing for  the  live  Creature  after  you  had  felt  it,  if 


bs] 


A  Letter  to  Mr.  C.  M.  73 


it  were  on  the  Bed  it  was  not  fo  very  far  from 
her.  And  for  the  length  of  his  Prayer,  poflibly 
your  Witnelfes  might  keep  a  more  exadl  account 
of  the  time  than  thofe  others,  and  I  fland  not  for 
a  few  Minutes.  For  the  reft  of  the  Objections 
I  fuppofe  them  of  lefs  moment,  if  lefs  can  be 
(however  fhall  be  ready  to  receive  them,  thofe 
matters  of  greateft  concern  I  find  no  Objections 
againft)  thefe  being  all  that  yet  appear,  it  may  be 
thought  that  if  the  Narrative  be  not  [25]  fully 
exaCt,  it  was  as  near  as  Memory  could  bear  away  ; 
but  fhould  be  glad  to  fee  one  more  perfed:  (which 
yet  is  not  to  be  expedied,  feeing  none  writ  at  the 
time.)  You  mention  the  appendix,  by  which  I 
underftand  the  Second  Vifit,  and  if  you  be  by  the 
polfelTed  belyed  (as  being  half  an  hour  with  her 
alone  (excluding  her  own  Mother)  and  as  telling 
her  you  had  Prayed  for  her  Nine  times  that  day, 
and  that  now  was  her  Laughing  time,  ftie  muft 
Laugh  now)  I  can  fee  no  Wonder  in  it ;  what 
can  be  expedied  lefs  from  the  Father  of  Lies,  by 
whom,  you  Judge,  fhe  was  pofTeft. 

And  befides  the  above  Letter,  you  were  pleafed 
to  fend  me  another  Paper  containing  feveral  Tef- 
timonies  of  the  Poflefied  being  lifted  up,  and 
held  a  fpace  of  feveral  Minutes  to  the  Garret 
floor,  &c.  but  they  omit  giving  the  account, 
whether  after  fhe  was  down  they  bound  her 
down :  or  kept  holding  her :  And  relate  not 
how  many  were  to  pull  her  down,  which  hinders 
the  knowledge  what  number  they  muft  be  to  be 


74  A  Letter  to  Mr,  C.  M.  [25] 

ftronger  than  an  Invilible  Force.  Upon  the 
whole,  I  fuppofe  you  exped:  I  fhould  believe  it ; 
and  if  fo,  the  only  advantage  gain'd,  is  that  w^hich 
has  been  fo  long  controverted  between  Protectants 
and  Papifts,  whether  miracles  are  ceaft,  will 
hereby  feem  to  be  decided  for  the  latter;  it 
being,  for  ought  I  can  fee,  if  fo,  as  true  a  Miracle 
as  for  Iron  to  fwim,  and  that  the  Devil  can  work 
fuch  Miracles. 

But  Sir,  leaving  thefe  little  difputable  things,  I 
do  again  pray  that  you  would  let  me  have  the 
happinefs  of  your  approbation  or  confutation  of 
that  Letter  before  referred  to. 

And  now.  Sir,  that  the  God  of  all  Grace  may 
enable  us  Zealoully  to  own  his  Truths,  and  to 
follow  thofe  things  that  tend  to  Peace,  and  that 
yourfelf  may  be  as  an  ufeful  Inftrument  in  his 
hand,  effedtually  to  ruin  the  remainders  of 
Heathenifh  and  Popifh  Superftitions,  is  the 
earneft  delire  and  prayer  of  yours  to  command, 
in  what  I  may.  R.  C. 

Pojifcript — Sir,  I  here  fend  you  the  Coppy  of 
a  paper  that  lately  came  to  my  Hands,  which  tho' 
it  contains  no  Wonders,  yet  is  remarkable,  and 
Runs  thus. 


[26] 


A  Letter  to  Mr,  C.  M.  75 


An  account  of  what  an  Indian  told  Cap- 
tain Hill^^'^  at  Saco-Fort, 

THE  Indian  told  him  that  the  French  Minijiers 
were  better  than  the  Englijh^  for  before  the 
French  cajfie  among  them  there  were  a  great  many 
Witches  among  the  Indians,  but  now  there  were 
none^  and  there  were  much  Witches  among  the 
EngUfh  Minijiers,  as  Burroughs,  who  was  Hangd 
for  it. 

Were  I  difpofed  to  make  refledtions  upon  it,  I 
fuppofe  you  will  Judge  the  Field  large,  enough, 
but  I  forbear,  as  above.  R.  C. 

[26]  Bojion  Feb.  the  \<^th,  1693. 
Mr.  Cotton  Mather, 

Reverend  Sir,  Having  received  as  yet  no 
Anfwer  to  mine  of  Novemb.  the  24th.  except 
an  offer  to  perufe  Books,  &c.  relating  to  the  Doc- 
trinals  therein  contain'd  :  Nor  to  my  laft  of  fan- 

'^1  Captain  John  Hill,  of  whom  God    in  Chrift,  have,   with  much 

Dr.  Ufher  Parfons  has  given  an  in-  Sorrow    of   Heart,    declared    how 

terefting  and  ample  Account  in  the  they  had,  whilft  in  their  Heathen- 

N.   E.   Hift.   and  Gen.    Reg.   for  ifm  by  the  Hands  of  Evil  Angels 

April  and  July,  1858.  Murdered  their  Neighbors." — Dr. 

As  a  Contraft  to  the   next  Sen-  I.  Mather,  to  the  Reader  in  Angelo- 

tence  of  the  Text  take  this :    "Some  graphia.     In  the   valuable    Collec- 

of  the  Indian  Pawawes  (/.  e.,  Wiz^  tion  of  Dr.   J.  S.   H.  Fogg,  of  S. 

zards)  in    this    Country,  have  re-  Bofton,    are    many   of  the   Papers 

ceived  the  Gofpel,  and  given  Good  of  Capt.  Hill,  of  much  Intereft  on 

Evidence  of  a  True  Converfion  to  the  Period  referred  to. 

o 


76  A  Letter  to  Mr.  C.  M.        [26] 

uary  the  i8th.  In  which  I  did  again  pray  that  if 
I  err'd  I  might  be  fhewed  it  by  Scripture,  Viz.  in 
beUeving  that  the  Devils  bounds  are  fett,  which 
he  cannot  pafs ;  that  the  Devils  are  fo  full  of 
Malice  that  it  cant  be  added  to  by  Mankind  : 
That  where  he  hath  power  he  neither  can  nor 
will  omit  Executing  it ;  That  it's  only  the  Al- 
mighty that  fets  bounds  to  his  rage,  and  that  only 
can  commiffionate  him  to  hurt  or  deftroy  any ; 
And  confequently  to  deteft  as  erroneous  and  dan- 
gerous, the  belief  that  a  Witch  can  Commiffionate 
Devils  to  Afflid;  Mortals ;  That  he  can  at  his  or 
the  Witches  pleafure  affiime  any  fliape :  That 
Hanging  or  Chaining  of  Witches  can  leiTen  his 
Power  of  Afflidiing,  and  reftore  thofe  that  were, 
at  a  diftance.  Tormented  by  him.  And  whether 
Witchcraft  ought  to  be  underflood  now  in  this 
Age,  to  be  the  fame  that  it  was  when  the  Divine 
Oracles  were  given  forth,  particularly,  thofe  quoted 
by  Mr.  Gaiile  in  that  cited  Head  [tVojiders  of  the 
Invijible  World ;^^  Mr.  Gauks  IV.  Head,  to  dif- 
cover  Witches)  which  do  fo  plainly  ffiew  a  Witch, 
in  Scripture-fenfe  to  be  one  that  maligne,  &c. 
And  that  pretend  to  give  a  Sign  in  order  to  fe- 
duce,  &c.  For  I  have  never  underftood  in  my 
time,  any  fuch  have  Suffered  as  Witches,  tho' 
fufficiently  known ;  But  the  only  Witch  now 
inquired  after,  is  one  that  is  faid  to  become  fo  by 
making  an  Explicit  Covenant  with  the  Devil,  /'.  e. 
the  Devil  appearing  to  them,  and  making  a  com- 

■^^  See  Vol.  I,  Page  37,  of  thefe  Volumes. 


[27] 


A  Letter  to  Mr,  C.  M.  77 


pad:  mutually,  promifing  each  to  other,  teftified 
by  their  iigning  his  Book,  a  material  Book,  which 
he  is  faid  to  keep  and  that  thereby  they  are  Inti- 
tuled to  a  power,  not  only  to  Afflidt  others,  but 
fuch  as  is  truly  exorbitant,  if  not  highly  intrench- 
ing upon  the  prerogative  of  him,  who  is  the 
Soveraign  being ;  For  who  is  he  that  faith,  and 
it  cometh  to  pafs,  when  the  Lord  commandeth 
it  not. 

Such  explicit  Covenant  being  as  is  faid  in  this 
Age  reckoned  elfential  to  compleat  a  Witch  :  Yet 
I  finding  nothing  of  fuch  covenant  (or  power 
thereby  obtain'd)  in  Scripture,  and  yet  a  Witch 
therein  fo  fully  defcrib'd,  do  pray  that  if  there  be 
any  fuch  Scriptures  I  may  be  directed  to  them, 
for  as  to  the  many  Legends  in  this  cafe  I  make 
no  account  of  them ;  I  Read  indeed  of  a  Cove- 
nant with  Death  and  with  Hell,  but  fuppofe  that 
to  be  in  the  Heart  (or  Mental)  only,  and  fee  not 
what  ufe  fuch  explicit  one  can  be  of  between 
Spirits,  any  further  than  as  'tis  a  Copy  of  that 
Mental  which  is  in  the  Heart.  The  dire  effeds 
and  confequences  of  fuch  notion  may  be  found 
written  in  indelible  Koman  Characters  of  Blood 
in  all  Countryes  where  they  have  prevail'd,  and 
what  can  lefs  be  [27]  expedied  when  Men  are 
Indicted  for  that,  which,  as  'tis  impoffible  to 
prove  fo,  for  any  to  clear  himfelf  of.  Viz,  Such 
explicit  Covenant  with  the  Devil,  and  then  for 
want  of  better  Evidence,  mufl:  take  up  with  fuch  as 
the  Nature  of  fuch  fecret  Covenant  can  bear,  as  Mr. 


78  A  Letter  to  Mr,  C.  M.  [27] 

Gaule  hath  it,  /.  e.  Diftra6ted  Stories,  and  ftrange 
and  Foreign  Events,  ^c.  Thereby  endeavouring 
to  find  it,  though  by  it's  but  fuppofed  efFedls ; 
By  the  fame  Rules  that  one  is  put  to  purge 
himfelf  of  fuch  Compad:,  by  the  fame  may  all 
Mankind.+9 

This  then  being  fo  Important  a  cafe,  it  con- 
cerns all  to  know  what  Foundations  in  Scripture 
is  laid  for  fuch  a  Structure ;  For  if  they  are  defi- 
cient of  that  Warrant,  the  more  Eminent  the 
Architedis  are  the  more  dangerous  are  they 
thereby  rendered,  ^c.  Thefe  are  fuch  confidera- 
tions  as  I  think  will  vindicate  me  in  the  efteem 
of  all  Lovers  of  Humanity,  in  my  endeavours  to 
get  them  cleared.  And  to  that  End,  do  once 
more  pray,  that  you  would  fo  farr  oblige  me  as  to 
give  your  Approbation  or  Confutation  of  the 
above  Dodlrinals ;  But  if  you  think  filence  a 
Vertue  in  this  cafe,  I  fhall  (I  fuppofe)  fo  far 
comply  with  it  as  not  to  loofe  you  any  more 
time  to  look  over  my  papers.  And  if  any  others 
will  fo  far  oblige  me,  I  Ihall  not  be  ungrateful  to 
them ;  Praying  God  to  guide  and  profper  you,  I 
am.  Sir,  yours  to  my  power, 

R.  C. 

(He  that  doth  Truths  comet h  to  the  Light.) 

40  The  Abfurdity  of  the  Praftice  Days.     The    Praftice  of  infulting 

of  the  Courts  then  in  Ufe,  in  their  and  browbeating  thofe  on  Trial  was 

fliocking  Abufes  of  accufed  Perfons,  according    to    the    Cuftom    of  the 

will  be  found  in  all  its  Deformity,  Englifh  Courts  of  thofe  Days,  and 

on   perufing    the  Trials    of  thofe  for  a  long  Time  after. 


[27] 


A  Letter  to  Mr.  C.  M.  79 


Bofton  April  the  \t>th,  1694. 

Mr.  Cotton  Mather. 
Reverend  Sir, 

HAVING  as  yet  Received  no  Anfwer  to  my 
laft,  touching  the  Doftrinals  therein  refer- 
red to,  tho'  at  the  deHvery  of  it,  you  were  pleafed 
to  promife  the  Gentleman  that  prefented  it,  that 
I  fhould  have  it,  and  after  that  you  acqainted  the 
fame  Gentleman  that  you  were  about  it.  The 
length  of  time  iince  thofe  promifes,  makes  me 
fuppofe  you  are  preparing  fomething  for  the  Prefs 
(for  I  would  not  queftion  your  veracity)  do  think 
it  may  not  be  amifs,  when  you  do  any  thing  of  that 
Nature  for  the  publick  view,  that  you  alfo  explain 
fome  paiTages  of  fome  late  Books  of  yours  and 
your  Relations,  which  are  hard  to  be  underftood, 
to  Inftance  in  a  few  of  many  Wonders  of  the 
Invifible  Worlds  pag.  17.  [Plagues  are  fo7ne  of  thefe 
woes  with  which  the  Devil  caufes  our  Trouble^  pag. 
1 8 .  Hence  cotne  fuch  Plagues  as  that  befom  of  de- 
fruSlion  which  within  our  Memory  fwept  away  fuch 
a  throng  of  People  from  one  Englifh  city,  in  one 
Viftation.  Wars  are  fome  of  thofe  woes  with  which 
the  Devil  caufes  our  Trouble,  pag.  16.  Hence  'tis 
that  the  Devil  like  a  Dragon  keeping  a  Guard  upon 
fuch  Fruits  as  would  refrejh  a  Languijlnng  World, 
has  hindered  Mankind  for  many  Ages  from  hitting 
upon  thofe  ufefull  Inventions.  The  benighted  World 
muf  Jogg  on  for  thoufands  of  Tears,  without  the 


8o  A  Letter  to  Mr,  C.  M.  [28] 

knowledge  of  the  Load-Jlone,  Printing  and  SpeBa- 
cles,  pag.  10,  It  is  [28]  not  likely  that  every  Devil 
does  know  every  Language.  '  Tis  pojjible  the  Expe- 
rience, or  if  I  may  call  it  fo,  the  Education  of  all 
Devils  is  not  alike ;  Cafes  of  confcience,  page  63. 
'The  Devil  has  itzfiBed  on  many  the  Difeafe  call'd 
Lycanthropia.5° 

Memor.  provid.  Relat.  to  Witch.  Difc.  on 
Wit.  pag.  24.  /  a?n  alfo  apt  to  think  that  the  Devils 
are  feldom  able  to  hurt  us  in  any  of  our  exteriour 
concerns,  without  a  ComtniJ/ion  fro?n  fojne  of  our 
fellow  Worms.  When  foul  Mouth' d  Men  Jliall  wijh 
harm  to  their  Neighbours,  they  give  a  Commijfon  to 
the  Devil  to  perform  what  they  defre,  and  if  God 
Jljould  not  Mercifully  prevent,  they  would  go  thro 
with  it ;  Hear  this  you  that  in  wilde  PaJ/iojt  will 
give  every  thing  to  the  Devil;  Hear  it  you  that  be- 
fpeak  a  Rot,  a  Pox,  or  a  Plague,  on  all  that  Jlo all 
provoke  you ;  I  here  IndiB  you  as  Guilty  of  Hellifli 
Witchcraft  in  the  Sight  of  God.  More  Wonders 
of  the  Invifible  World,  pag.  49.  They  each  of 
them  have  their  SpeBres  or  Devils  Comtnifponed  by 
them  and  reprefenting  of  them,  pag.  14.  But  fuch 
a  permijjion  from  God  for  the  Devil  to  conie  down 
and  break  in  upon  Mankind  ?nuf  often  times  be  ac- 
companied with  a  Cnmmijpon  frofu  fo?ne  of  Mankind 
itfelf  Inchantments  Encountered.      Thefe  Witches 

•5^  Nothing   was   more    common  in  thofe  Sliapes  they  attended  Witch 

among  thofe  who  imagined  them-  Meetings.      At   fuch  Meetings  the 

felves  bewitched,  than  the  Notion  Devil  was  always  prefent,  and  adled 

that    they   were     transformed    into  as  Mailer  of  Ceremonies.     A  very 

Cats,  and  other  Animals;  and  that  fure  Evidence  of  Infanity. 


[28]  A  Letter  to  Mr.  C.  M.  8i 

ha've  driven  a  "Trade  of  CoiJimiffionating  their  con- 
federate Spirits,  to  do  all  forts  of  Mif chiefs  to  their 
Neighbours,  pag.  50.  They  have  bewitched  fome 
even  fo  far r,  as  to  make  them  Self  dejir oyer s,  pag. 
144.  As  I  a?n  abundantly  fatisfedy  that  many  of 
the  Self-murders  comniitted  here,  have  been  the  ef- 
fects of  a  cruel  and  Bloody  Witchcraft,  letting  fy 
Daemons  upon  the  Miferable  Seneca's,  pag.  5 1 .  We 
have  feen  fome  of  their  Children  fo  Dedicated  to  the 
Devil,  that  in  their  Infancy  the  hnps  have  fucked 
the?n.  Cafes  of  confcience,  pag.  24.  They  be- 
queath their  Daemons  to  their  Children  as  a  Legacy, 
by  whom  they  are  often  aj/ijled  to  fee  and  do  things 
beyond  the  Power  of  Nature,  pag.  2 1 .  There  are 
in  Spain  a  fort  of  People  calFd  Zahurs,^'  that  can 
fee  into  the  Bowels  of  the  Earth.  [On  Tuefdays 
and  Fridays,]  (and  to  add)  that  in  pag.  49.  The 
words  are  [For  the  Law  of  God  allows  of  no  Reve- 
lation fro?n  any  other  Spirit  but  himfelf  If  a.  viii. 
19.  It  is  a  Sin  againji  God  to  ?nake  ufe  of  the 
Devils  help,  to  know  that  which  cannot  be  otherways 
known ;  and  I  tefify  againfl  it  as  a  great  traiif-  I 
grej/ion,  which  may  Jujlly  provoke  the  Holy  one  of  \ 
Ifrael,  to  let  loofe  Devils  on  the  whole  Land?\  Al-  ' 
tho  the  Devils  Accufation  may  be  fo  far  regarded, 
as  to  caufe  an  inquiry  into  the  Truth  of  things, 
fob.  i.  II,  12,  and  ii,  5,  6.      Tet  not  fo  as  to  be  an 

51  Called    in    Captain  John   Ste-  or  into  a  Man's  Body ;  a  Cheat  put 

vens's  Spanijh  and  Englijh  DiSiion-  upon  the  Ignorant."    There  is  fome- 

tfrj,  CtfW/,  which  is  defined,  "one  thing  very  fimilar  in   our  Times, 

that  pretends  to  fee  into  the  Bowels  even  leaving  out  the  Founder  of"  the 

of  the  Earth,  through  Stone  Walls,  Mormon  Seft. 


82  A  Letter  to  Mr,  C.  M.         [29] 

'Evidence  or  Ground  of  ConviBion,  for  the  Devils 
Tejiimony  ought  not  to  be  taken  in  JVHOLE  Nor 
In  PART.^  It  is  a  known  Truth,  that  fome 
unwary  expreffions  of  the  primative  Fathers,  were 
afterwards  improved  for  the  Introducing  and  ef- 
tabUfhing  of  Error,  as  their  calHng  the  Virgin 
Mary^  the  Mother  of  God,  &c.  Hence  occafion 
and  Advantage  was  taken  to  propagate  the  Idol- 
izing of  her  (the  Hke  might  be  faid  of  the  Eu- 
cha[^Z()\riJi,  thefe  affertions,  above  rehearfed,  being 
apparently  liable  to  a  like  Male  Conftrudiion,  and 
no  lefs  dangerous,  are  therefore  as  I  faid  highly- 
needful  to  be  explain'd,  and  that  in  a  moft  pub- 
lick  manner.  For  were  they  to  be  underftood 
Litterally  and  as  they  are  fpoken,  it  muft  feem  as 
if  the  Authors  were  Introducing  among  Chriftians 
very  dangerous  Doctrines,  fuch,  as  were  they  af- 
ferted  by  the  beft  of  Men,  yet  ought  to  be 
rejected  by  all,  &c.  Viz.  That  'tis  the  Devil  that 
brings  the  mofl  of  Evils  upon  Mankind,  by  way 
of  Infliction,  that  do  befall  theln ;  And  that  the 
Witch  can  commiffionate  him  to  the  performance 
of  thefe,  with  many  others  as  dangerous  Doc- 
trines, and  fuch  as  feem  in  their  tendency  to  look 
favourably  upon  the  Antient  Pagan  Docflrine  of 
this  countrey,  who  did  believe  that  God  did  hurt 
to  none,  but  Good  to  all,  but  that  the  Devil  muft 
be  pleaf'd  by  Worfhipping,  &c.  From  whom 
came  all  their  Miferies,  as  they  believed.  For 
what  were  all  this  but  to  Rob  God  of  his  Glory 
in  the  higheft  manner,  and  giving  it  to  a  Devil 


[29]  A  Letter  to  Mr,  C.  M.  83 

and  a  Witch  ;  Is  it  not  he  that  has  faid  fhall  there 
be  Evil  in  a  City  and  the  Lord  hath  not  done  it  ? 
But  if  any  are  fond  of  their  own  notions  becaufe 
fome   Eminent   Men    have    before   now   aflerted 
them ;   they  may  do  well  to  compare  them  with 
that    excellent    faying,    Wonders  of  the   Invijtble 
World,  pag.  7.      \^About  this  Devil  there  are  many 
things,    whereof  we   may  reafonably  and  profitably 
be  inquifitive,  fuch  things  I  mean  as  are  in  our  Bi- 
bles reveal' d  to  us ;  according  to  which  if  we  do  not 
fpeak  on  fo  dark  a  SubjeB,   but  according   to   our 
own  uncertain  and  perhaps  Humourfom  ConjeBures, 
there  is  no  Light  in  us.     Or  that  other,  pag.  y^. 
At  every  other  Weapon  the  Devil  will  be  too  hard 
for  «j-,]     For  'tis  moil  certain  that  other  Notions, 
Weapons  and  Practices  have  been  taken  up  with ; 
And    that   the   event    has    been    anfwerable,    the 
Devil  has  been  too  hard  for  fuch  as  have  fo  done. 
I  Ihall  forbear  to  inftance  from  the  Dogmatical 
part,  and    fhall    mention   fome   praftices   that  as 
much  need   explaining.     Mem.  provid.   Relat.  to 
Witch,  pag.  29,  30,  31.5^    Where  account  is  given 
that  it  was  Pray'd  for  that  the  afflicfled  might  be 
able   to    declare,   whom    fhe  apprehended  herfelf 
Afflidted  by,  together  with  the  Immediate  anfwer 
of  fuch  Prayer.     To  this  you  once  Reply'd  when 
it  was  mentioned  to  you,  that  you  did  not  then 
underftand  the  wiles  of  Satan. 

52  This  Work,  here  often  refer-  Providences  relating  to  Witchcraft 
red  to,  was  printed  in  1689.  Its  aytd  PoOeJJions,  in  a  i6mo.  But 
more  extended  Title  is.  Memorable     few  Copies  are  known  to  exift. 


84  A  Letter  to  Mr.  C.  M.  [30] 

To  which  I  have  nothing  to  objedt,  but  it 
might  be  a  good  Acknowledgment ;  But  con- 
fidering  that  the  Book  is  gone  forth  into  all  the 
World,  cannot  but  think  the  Salve  ought  to  be 
proportion'd  to  the  Sore,  and  the  notice  of  the 
Devils  wiles  as  Univerfal,  as  the  means  recom- 
mending them.  Another  Praftice  \%  pag.  20,  21. 
[  'There  was  one  Jingular  pajpon  that  frequently  at- 
tended her,  an  Invijibk  Chain  would  be  clapt  about 
her,  and  Jhe  in  much  pain  and  fear  cry  out  when 
they  began  to  put  it  on,  once  I  did  with  my  own  hand 
knock  it  off  as  it  began  to  be  fajiened  about  her.^  [30] 
If  this  were  done  by  the  power  or  Vertue  of  any 
ord'nance  of  Divine  Inftitution,  it  is  well,  but 
would  have  been  much  better  if  the  Inftitution 
had  been  demonftrated,  or  was  there  any  Phyfical 
Vertue  in  that  particular  Hand.  But  fuppofing 
that  neither  of  thefe  will  be  alTerted  by  the  Au- 
thor, I  do  think  it  very  requifite,  that  the  World 
may  be  acquainted  with  the  Operation,  and  to 
what  Art  or  Craft  to  refer  their  Power  of  Knock- 
ing off  Invifble  Chains. 

And  thus.  Sir,  I  have  Faithfully  difcharged 
(what  in  this  I  took  to  be  my  Duty)  and  am  fo 
far  from  doing  it  to  gain  applaufe,  or  from  a 
Spirit  of  Contradidlion,  that  I  exped:  to  procure 
me  many  Enemies  thereby,  (but  as  in  cafe  of  a 
Fire)  where  the  Glory  of  God,  and  the  Good 
and  Wellfare  of  Mankind  are  fo  nearly  concern'd, 
I  thought  it  my  duty  to  be  no  longer  an  Idle 
Spediator ;  And  can,  and  do  fay,  to  the  Glory  of 


[30]  A  Letter  to  Mr,  B.  85 

God,  in  this  whole  Affair,  I  have  endeavoured  a 
Confcience  voide  of  offence,  both  tow^ards  God 
and  towards  Man ;  And  therein  at  the  leaft  have 
the  advantage  of  fuch  as  are  very  Jealous  they 
have  done  fo  much  herein,  as  to  Sin  in  what  they 
have  done,  viz.  In  fheltring  the  Accufed,  fuch 
have  been  the  Cowardice  and  Fearfulnefs,  where- 
unto  the  regard  to  the  Diffatisfadlion  of  other 
People  have  precipitated  them ;  Which  by  the 
way  muff  needs  acquaint  all,  that  for  the  future 
other  meafures  are  refolved  upon  (by  fuch)  which 
how  Bloody  they  may  prove  when  opportunity 
fhall  offer,  is  with  him  who  orders  all  things, 
according  to  the  counfel  of  his  own  Will :  And 
now  that  the  Song  of  Angels  may  be  the  Emula- 
tion of  Men,  is  the  earnefl  Delire,  and  Prayer,  of 
Sir,  Yours  to  Command  in  what  I  may, 

R.  C. 
Glory  to    God  in   the  Higheji,  and  on  Earth 
Peace  and  good  Will  towards  Men. 

Bojlon,  March  the  iji.  1694. 
Mr.  B.53  Worthy  Sir, 

AFTER   more  than  a  Years  waiting  for  the 
performance  of  a   reiterated   promife  from 
one  under  lingular  obligations,  and  a  multitude 

53 1  fuppofe  Mr.  Thomas  Brattle,  an   Account    of  the  Witchcraft  of 

the  then  Treafurer  of  Harvard  Col-  1692,    which    laid   in    Manufcript 

lege.      He  was  a  principal  Founder  about    one    hundred    Years,   when 

of  the  Church   in  Brattle  Square,  Dr.  Belknap  caufed  it  to  be  printed 

known  by  his  Name.      He  wrote  in  Part,  in  the   Colls.  Ms.  H.  So- 


86  A  Letter  to  Mr,  B.  [31] 

of  advantages  to  have  done*  it  fooner.  The  utmoft 
compliance  I  have  mett  with,  is  (by  your  Hands) 
the  fight  of  four  Sheets  of  recinded  Papers,  but  I 
muft  firft  be  obliged  to  return  them  in  a  Fort- 
night, and  not  Copied,  which  I  have  now  com- 
plied with  :  And  having  read  them  am  not  at  all 
Surprized  at  the  Authors  Caution  in  it,  not  to 
admit  of  fuch  crude  matter  and  impertinent  ab- 
furdities,  as  are  to  be  found  in  it  to  fpread.  He 
feems  concern'd  that  I  take  no  notice  of  his 
feveral  Books,  wherein,  as  he  faith,  he  has  unan- 
fwerably  proved  things  to  which  I  might  reply, 
that  I  have  fent  him  letters  of  quotations  out  of 
thofe  Books,  to  know  how  much  of  them  he  will 
abide  by,  for  I  thought  it  hard  to  affix  their  [31] 
Natural  confequences  till  he  had  opportunity  to 
explain  them.  And  faith  that  he  had  fent  me 
(Mr.  Baxters  World  of  Spirits)  an  ungainfayable 
Book,  &c.  (tho  I  know  no  ungainfayable  Book, 
but  the  Bible)  which  Book  I  think  no  Man  that 
has  read  it,  will  give  fuch  a  Title  to  but  the  Au- 
thor, he  fpeaks  of  my  reproaching  his  publick 
Sermons,  of  which  I  am  not  confcious  to  myfelf, 
unlefs  it  be  about  his  interpretation  of  a  Thunder 
Storm  (that  broke  into  his  Houfe)  which  favoured 
fo  much  of  Enthuliafm.54^ 

ciety,  V,  61-80.  Mr.  Brattle  was  a  It  is  poffible  that  the  Initial  (Mr. 
Scholar,  a  Graduate  of  Harvard  B — )  may  ftand  for  Gov.  Brad- 
College,  and,  like  Mr.  Calef,  a  ftreet;  but  I  prefume  Mr.  Brattle  is 
Merchant  of  Bofton.     His  Com-  meant, 

munications  to  the  Royal  Society  of  ^4  jj  muft  have  been  difficult  for 

London  procured  him  the  Title  of  a  common-fenfe  Man,  as  Mr.  Calef 

F.  R.  S.  was,  to   hear  fuch  Matters  treated 


[31] 


A  Letter  to  Mr,  B.  87 


As  to  thofe  papers,  I  have  (as  I  read  them) 
noted  in  the  Margin  where,  in  a  hafly  reading,  I 
thought  it  needful,  of  which  it  were  unreafonable 
for  him  to  complain ;  feeing  I  might  not  take  a 
Copy,  thereby  to  have  been  inabled,  more  at  lea- 
fure  to  digefl  what  were  needfull  to  be  faid  on  fo 
many  Heads ;  and  as  I  have  not  flatter'd  him,  fo 
for  telling  what  was  fo  needful,  with  the  hazard 
of  making  fo  many  Enemies  by  it,  I  have  ap- 
proved myfelf  one  of  his  beft  Friends :  And 
befides  his  own  fenfe  of  the  weaknefs  of  his  An- 
fwer,  teftified  by  the  prohibition  above,  he  has 
wholly  declined  anfwering  to  moft  of  thofe  things 
that  I  had  his  promife  for,  and  what  he  pretends 
to  fpeak  to,  after  mentioning,  without  the  needful 
Anfwer  or  Proof  drops  it. 

His  firft  main  Work  is  after  his  definition  of  a 
Witch,  which  he  never  proves  (without  faying 
any  thing  to  Mr.  Gauls  Scriptural  defcription, 
tho'  fo  often  urged  to  it,  and  tho'  himfelf  has  in 
his  Book  recommended  and  quoted  it)  is  to  mag- 
nifie  the  Devils  Power,  and  that  as  I  think  beyond 

ferioufly  in  the  Pulpit,  and  keep  his  ftruck  with  a  Clap  of  Thunder;  on 
Rifibility  under  complete  Control!,  being  taken  up,  his  dead  Body  was 
If  Thunder  and  Lightning  were  the  found  exceeding  hot,  and  withall 
Work  of  the  Devil,  as  it  feems  Mr.  fmelling  ftrong  of  Sulphur,  info- 
Mather  believed,  it  is  not  very  much  that  they  were  forced  to  drop 
ftrange  that  he  fhould  difcoverfome  him,  and  let  him  ly  a  confiderable 
very  odd  Pranks  in  their  Operations.  Time  ere  he  could  be  removed. 
The  Father  (Dr.  I.  Mather)  re-  It  is  reported  that  fometimes  Thun- 
lates,  among  his  PhiloJ'ophical  Medi-  der  and  Lightning  has  been  gene- 
tations,  that  as  "  a  Man  was  walk-  rated  out  of  the  fulphurous  and 
ing,  in  Auguft,  1682,  in  the  Field,  bituminous  Matter  which  the  firey 
near  Darking  in  England,  he  was  Mountain  ^tna  hath  caft  forth." 


88  A  Letter  to  Mr.  B.  [32] 

and  againft  the  Scripture,  this  takes  him  up  about 
1 1  Pages,  and  yet  in  Page  22  again  returns  to  it, 
and  as  I  underftand  it,  takes  part  with  the  P hart- 
fees  againft  our  Saviour  in  the  Argument,  for 
they  charge  him  that  he  caft  out  Devils  thro' 
Beelzebub,  Our  Saviours  Anfwer  is.  Mat.  xii,  25. 
Every  Kingdom  divided  againji  itfelf  is  brought  to 
defolation ;  and  every  City  or  Houfe  divided  againji 
itfelf,  Jhall  not  ft  and,  and  if  Satan  caft  out  Satan, 
he  is  divided  againft  himfelf  how  Jhall  then  his  King- 
dom ft  and:  And  yet  notwithftanding  this  Anfwer 
together  with  what  follows,  for  further  Illuftra- 
tion,  our  Author  is  it  feems  refolved  to  aftert  that 
our  Saviour  did  not  in  this  Anfwer  deny  that 
many  did  fo,  {viz.)  caft  out  Devils  by  Beelzebub, 
■  and  Page  23  grants  that  the  Devils  have  a  Mira- 
culous Power,  but  yet  muft  not  be  call'd  miracles, 
and  yet  can  be  diftinguiftied,  as  he  intimates,  only 
by  the  Confcience  or  Light  within,  to  the  no 
fmall  fcandal  of  the  Chriftian  Religion. 

Tho'  our  Saviour  and  his  Apoftles  accounts  this 
the  chief  or  principal  proof  of  his  Godhead, 
John  XX.  30,  31.  John  x.  37,  38.  Jolin  v.  30. 
Mark  xvi.  17,  18.  ^Bs  ii.  22.  and  iv.  30.  with 
many  others  and  that  Miracles  belong  only  to 
God,  who  alfo  Governs  the  World,  Pfal.  cxxxvi. 
4.  Jer.  xiv.  22.  Ifa.  xxxviii.  8.  Pfal.  Ixii.  11.  , 
Lam.  iii.  37.  udmos  iii.  6.  [32]  But  to  forbear 
quoting  that  which  the  Scripture  is  moft  full  in, 
do  only  fay  that  he  that  dares  affert  the  Devil  to 
have  fuch  a  Miraculous   Power  had  need   have 


[32]  A  Letter  to  Mr,  B.  89 

other  Scriptures  than  ever  I  have  feen.  In  Page 
12.  our  Author  proceeds  and  ftates  a  queftion  to 
this  efFed:,  If  the  Devil  has  fuch  Pow^ers,  and  cant 
exert  them  without  permiffion  from  God,  what 
can  the  Witch  contribute  thereunto  ?  Inftead  of 
an  Anfwer,  to  this  weighty  objed:ion,  our  Author 
firft  concedes  that  the  Devil's  do  ordinarily  exert 
their  Powers,  without  the  Witches  contributing 
to  it,  but  yet  that  to  the  end  to  increafe  their 
guilt  he  may  cheat  a  Witch,  by  making  her  be- 
lieve herfelf  the  Author  of  them.^s  His  next 
is,  if  Witchcraft  be,  as  I  fuppofe  it  is,  the  £kill  of 
applying  the  Plaftic  Spirit  of  the  World,  &c.  then 
the  confent  of  the  Witch  doth  naturally  contri- 
bute to  that  mifchiefs  that  the  Devil  does.  And 
his  laft  anfwer  runs  to  this  effect.  Is  it  not  the 
Ordination  of  God,  that  where  the  Devil  can  get 
the  confent  of  a  Witch  for  the  hurting  of  others, 
the  hurt  fhall  as  certainly  be  as  if  they  had  fet 
MaflifF  Dogs  upon  them,  or  had  given  them 
Poyfon  into  their  Bowels;  and  Gods  Providence 
muft  be  as  great  in  delivering  from  one  as  from 
the  other,  and  this  it  feems  is  not  only  his  Belief, 
but  the  moft  Orthodox  and  moft  learned  anfwer 
that  our  Author  could  pitch  upon.  If  Witch- 
craft be  as  I   fuppofe  it  is,  ^c.  and  is  it  not  the 

•''5  There  feems  always   to    have  fure  us  that  the  Devil  commiffions 

been     great    Confufion,     and    no  the  Witch,  and  fometimes  that  the 

lels  Perplexity,  among  Believers  in  Witch  governs  the  Devil.      Hence, 

Witchcraft  refpefting  the  Parts  to  be  even  Believers  are  very  much  puz- 

affigned  to  the  Devil  and  the  Witch  zled  to  know  what  to  believe.     See 

refpedively.      Sometimes   they   af-  Vol.  I,  Introd.,  Pages  xviii,  xix. 


90  A  Letter  to  Mr.  B.  [32] 

Ordination  of  God,  that,  ^c.  What  is  all  this 
but  precarious,  and  begging  the  queftion,  and  a 
plain  dropping  the  Argument  he  cannot  manage ; 
however,  to  amufe  the  Ignorant,  and  to  confound 
the  Learned,  he  hooks  in  a  cramp  word,  if  not  a 
nonentity,  (yiz.)  Plajiic  Spirit  of  the  World,  for 
who  is  it  either  knows  that  there  is  a  Plajiic  Spirit, 
or  what  it  is,  or  how  this  can  any  way  ferve  his 
purpofe.5^ 

He  then  proceeds  to  Scripture  Inftances  of 
Witches,  &c.  and  where  I  thought  it  needful,  I 
have,  as  I  faid,  fhewed  my  diffent  from  his  Judg- 
ment :  He  accounts  it  unreaionable  to  be  held 
to  the  proof  of  his  definition  of  a  Witch,  which 
he  makes  to  confift  in  a  Covenant  with  the  Devil, 
and  chufes  rather  a  tedious  procefs  about  a  Piftol 
to  defend  him  from  it,  which  indeed  is  one  par- 
ticular way  whereby  Murder  has  been  Committed, 
and  fo  the  Dore  becomes  Culpable ;  But  his  defi- 
nition of  a  Witch,  which  as  I  faid,  ftill  remains 
to  be  proved,  is  to  this  effed:.  That  a  Witch  is  one 
that  Covenants  with,  and  Commiffions  Devils  to 

^'^'  It  would  no  doubt  puzzle  the  the  World.     It  is  faid,  Ifa.  65,  20. 

Devil  himfelf  to  explain  that  Term,  That  the  Sinner  of  an  hundred  Tears 

Plajiic  Spirit.     It  appears  to  have  Jhall  be  accurfed.      But  then  what 

been    made    ufe    of  for    the   fame  (hall  the  Sinner  be  that  is  more  than 

Reafcn  that  a  certain  Fifh  difcolors  5000  Years  old  ?     The  Devil  and 

the   Water    when    purfued   by    an  all  the  Angels  that  finned  with  him. 

Enemy.  are  Sinners  of  above  5000  Years 

The  following    Ideas   refpcfting  old,  and  will  therefore  become  the 

the  Devil  then  entertained  may  not  moil  accurfed  and  damned  Crea- 

be  out  of  Place  in  this  Connexion  :  tures  in  the  whole  Univerfe  at  the 


(( ' 


The  Devil  is  the  oldeft  Sinner,     Great  Day." — Dr.  I.  Mather,  An- 
and  the  moft  curfed  Creature  in  all     gelographia,  120. 


[33] 


A  Letter  to  Mr.  B.  91 


do  mifchiefs,  that  fhe  is  one  in  Covenant,  or  that 
by  Vertue  of  fuch  Covenant  fhe  can  Commiffion- , 
ate  him  tD  Kill.  The  not  bringing  Scripture  to 
prove  thefe  tv^o,  is  a  fufficient  demonflration  there 
is  none ;  and  fo  that  our  Author  leaves  off  jufl 
vv^here  he  began,  ^2;.  in  a  bare  Affertion,  together 
with  his  own  Biggoted  experiences,  hinting  alfo 
at  multitudes  of  Hiftories  to  confirm  him  in  the 
belief  of  his  definition.  Here  being  all  that  I 
take  notice  of  to  be  confiderable. 

[33]  And  now.  Sir,  if  you  think  fit  to  improve 
your  Friendfhip  with  the  Author  for  the  Glory 
of  God,  the  Sovereign  Being,  the  good  and  wel- 
fare of  Mankind^  and  for  his  real  and  true  Intereft, 
as  you  fee  it  convenient,  put  him  in  mind.  That 
the  Glory  of  God  is  the  end  why  Mankind  was 
made,  and  why  He  hath  fo  many  Advantages  to 
it.  That  the  Flames  we  have  feen  threatning 
the  utter  extirpation  of  the  Country,  muft  own 
their  Original  to  thefe  dangerous  Errors  (if  not 
herefies)  which  if  they  remain  Unextinguifhed, 
may  and  moft  likely  will  be  ad:ed  over  again. 

That  'tis  more  Honour  to  own  an  Error  in 
time,  than  tenacioufly  after  full  Conviction  to  re- 
tain it.  But  if  our  Author  will  again  Vindicate 
fuch  matters,  pleafe  to  acquaint  him,  that  I  fhall 
not  any  more  receive  his  Papers,  if  I  may  not 
Copy  and  ufe  them ;  and  that  when  he  does, 
inftead  of  fuch  abftruife  matters,  I  ftill  pray  his 
determination  in  thofe  things  I  have  his  promife 

Q 


92  A  Letter  to  the  Minijiers,        [33] 

for.     And   thus   begging    Pardon   for   thus   long 
detaining  of  you,  I  am.  Sir,  your  to  Command, 

.  R.  C. 


Bofton,  March  18,  1694. 

To  the  Minijiers  J  whether  Englifh,  French, 

or  Dutch, 

I  Having  had  not  only  occafion,  but  renewed 
provocation  to  take  a  view  of  the  Myfterious 
Doctrines,  which  have  of  late  been  fo  much  con- 
tefted  among  us,  could  not  meet  with  any  that 
had  fpoken  more,  or  more  plainly  the  fenfe  of 
thofe  Doctrines  (relating  to  the  Witchcraft)  than 
the  Reverend  Mr.  C.  M.  but  how  clearly  and 
confiftent,  either  with  himfelf  or  the  truth,  I 
medle  not  now  to  fay,  but  cannot  but  fuppofe  his 
ftrenuous  and  Zealous  alTerting  his  opinions,  has 
been  one  caufe  of  the  difmal  Convulfions  we  have 
here  lately  fallen  into ;  Suppoiing  that  his  Books 
of  Memorable  Providences,  relating  to  Witchcraft, 
as  alfo  his  Wonders  of  the  Invifble  World,  did 
contain  in  them  things  not  warrantable,  and  very 
dangerous,  I  fent  to  him  a  Letter  of  Quotations 
out  of  thofe  Books,  <£?<;. 

That  fo,  if  it  might  have  been,  I  might  under- 
ftand  what  tollerable  Senfe  he  would  put  upon 
his  own  words,  which  I  took  to  be  a  better 
way  of  Proceeding,  than  to  have  affixed  what  I 
thought  to  be  their  natural  confequences,  and  left 
I  might  be  Judged  a  Sceptic  I   gave  him   a  full 


[34]        A  Letter  to  the  Minijlers.  93 

and  free  account  of  my  belief  relating  to  thofe 
Dodrines,  together  with  the  grounds  thereof; 
And  prayed  him  that  if  I  err'd  I  might  be  fhewed 
it  by  Scripture,  and  this  I  had  his  reiterated  promife 
for.  But  after  more  than  a  Years  waiting  for  the 
performance  thereof,  all  that  is  done  in  compli- 
ance therewith,  is  that  in  Feb.  laft,  he  fent  me 
four  fheets  of  his  writing  as  his  behef,  but  before 
I  might  receive  it  I  muft  engage  to  deliver  it  back 
in  a  Fortnight  and  not  Copy'd.57  A  Summary 
account  [34]  of  which  I  Ihall  give  you,  when  I 
have  firft  acquainted  you  what  the  Dodirines  were 
which  I  fent  to  him  for  his  concurrence  with,  or 
confutation  of,  and  to  which  I  had  his  promife, 

as  above. 

Thefe  by  way  of  Queftion,  {Fiz.)  whether  that 
fourth  Head  cited  and  recommended  by  himfelf 
(In  Wonders  of  the  Invifible  World,  of  Mr.  Gauls) 
ought  to  be  believed  as  a  truth,  which  runs  thus ; 
Among  the  moft  unhappy  circumftances  to  Con- 
vidt  a  Witch,  one  is  a  MaHgning  and  Oppugning 
the  Word,  Work,  and  Worihip  of  God,  and 
feeking  by  any  Extraordinary  fign  to  feduce  any 
from  it,  Beut.  xiii.  i,  2.  Mat.  xxiv.  24.  ABs 
xiii.  8,  10.      2  Tim.  iii.  8.  do  but  mark  well  the 

57  In  Anfwer  to  this,  the  Dr.  fays  :  fwer  which  every  impartial  Reader 

"  The  Reafon  that  made  me  unwil-  will  decide,  redounds  entirely  to  the 

ling  to  truft  any  of  my  Writings  in  Credit  of  Mr.   Calcf,  and  that  Cz- 

the  Hands  of  this  Man,  was  becaufe  vilit^j  is  alfo  altogether  on  his  bide. 

I  faw  the  Weaver  (though  he  pre-  Yet,  in  an  Air  of  Triumph  the  Doc- 

fumes  to  call  himfelf  a  Merchant)  tor  adds:  '^Th^  Antifcriptural Doc- 

was  a  Stranger  to  all  the  Rules  of  trines  cfpoufed  by  this  Man^do  alio 

Civility."     This  is  the  Kind  of  An-  call  for  no  further  Anfwer.' 


94-  A  hetter  to  the  Minijiers.        [34] 

places,  and  for  this  very  property  of  thus  op- 
pugning and  perverting,  they  are  all  there  con- 
cluded arrant  and  abfolute  Witches. 

And  if  in  Witchcraft  the  Devil  by  means  of  a 
Witch  does  the  Mifchief,  how  'tis  poffible  to 
diftinguifh  it  from  PolTeffion,  both  being  faid  to 
be  performed  by  the  Devil,  and  yet  without  an 
Infallible  difl:ind;ion  there  can  be  no  certainty  in 
Judgment.  And  whether  it  can  be  proved  that 
the  Jewi/h  Church  in  any  Age  before,  or  in  our 
Saviours  time,  even  in  the  time  of  their  greateft 
Apoftacy  did  believe  that  a  Witch  had  power  to 
Commiffionate  Devils  to  do  Mifchief. 

So  much  to  the  Queftions.  Thefe  were  fent 
as  my  belief :  That  the  devils  bounds  are  fett, 
that  he  cant  pafs ;  That  the  devils  are  fo  full  of 
Malice,  that  it  cant  be  added  to  by  Mankind ; 
That  where  he  hath  power  he  neither  can  nor 
will  omit  executing  it ;  That  'tis  only  the  Al- 
mighty that  fets  bounds  to  his  rage,  and  that  only 
can  Commiffionate  him  to  hurt  or  deftroy.  And 
now  I  fhall  give  you  the  Summary  account  of  his 
four  fheets  above  mentioned,  as  near  as  memory 
could  recoiled:,  in  Ten  Particulars. 

I.  That  the  Devils  have  in  their  Natures  a 
power  to  work  Wonders  and  Miracles ;  particu- 
larly that  the  Pharifees  were  not  miftaken  in 
alTerting  that  the  Devils  might  be  caft  out  by 
Beelzebub ;  and  that  our  Saviours  Anfwer  does  not 
oppofe  that  affertion  ;  and  that  he  hath  the  Power 
of  Death,  that  he  can  make  the  mofl  Solid  things 


[34]        A  Letter  to  the  Minijlers,  95 

Invifible;    and   can    Invifibly   bring    poyfon    and 
force  it. down  Peoples  Throats. s^ 

2.  That  to  alTert  this  Natural,  wonderful  Power 
of  the  Devil,  makes  moft  for  the  Glory  of  God, 
in  preferving  Man  from  its  effefts, 

3.  Yet  this  Power  is  reftrained  by  the  Al- 
mighty, as  pleafeth  him. 

4.  That  a  Witch  is  one  that  makes  a  Covenant 
with  the  Devil. 

5.  That  by  vertue  of  fuch  a  Covenant,  fhe  ar- 
rives at  a  Power  to  Commiffionate  him. 

6.  That  God  has  ordain'd,  that  when  the  Devil 
is  call'd  upon  by  the  Witch,  tho'  he  were  before 
reftrained  by  the  Almighty,  the  defired  mifchiefs 


■5S  In  this  Connexion  it  may  be 
interefting  to  have  the  Views  of  Dr. 
Increafe  Mather  refpe£ling  the  At- 
tributes of  the  Devil. 

"  There  were  many  of  them  [the 
Devils  Angels]  that  were  concerned 
in  that  firft  Tranfgreffion  and  Re- 
bellion againft  the  Lord.  It  is  faid, 
Ephef.  2.  3.  That  the  Devil  is  the 
Prince  of  the  Power  of  the  Air. 
So  that  there  is  a  Power,  an  Hojl, 
a  vaft  Army  of  thofe  Evil  Spirits, 
that  did  joyn  with  the  Devil,  in  fet- 
ting  themfelves  againft  the  Great 
God.  How  many,  is  not  for  us  to 
fay,  the  Written  Word  of  God  not 
fpeaking  anything  as  to  the  Quantity 
of  their  Number;  only  it  is  mani- 
feft  from  the  Scripture,  that  there 
are  far  more  Angels  that  have  fin- 
ned, far  more  Devils  than  there  are 
Men  in  all  the  World.  There  is 
not  a  Man  in  the  whole  World  but 


there  are  Devils  to  tempt  him  con- 
tinually. And  if  fo,  they  muft  needs 
be  more  in  Number  than  Men  are. 
We  read  in  the  Gofpel  of  no  lefs 
than  a  Legion  of  Devils  in  one  poor 
miferable  Man.  Luk.  8,  30.  You 
read  there  of  a  pofTefed  Man,  and 
Chrift  demanded  of  the  Evil  Spirit 
what  his  Name  was :  The  chief 
Devil  among  them  made  Anfwer, 
//  is  Legion  for  we  are  many.  A 
Legion  is  fix  Thoufand  fix  Hundred 
and  Sixty-fix.  Now  then,  if  the 
Devil  has  fuch  vaft  Numbers  of  In- 
fernal Spirits  under  him ;  if  he  has 
fuch  Troops  of  them,  as  that  he  can 
fpare  no  lefs  than  a  Legion  to  afflid, 
and  as  it  were  to  keep  Garrifon  in 
one  poor  miferable  Man :  what 
prodigious  Numbers  of  Evil  Angels 
muft  there  needs  be." — Angelo- 
graphia,  iii-iiz.  See  alfo  The 
Devil  Difcovered,  Vol.  I,  217-247. 


96  A  Letter  to  the  Minijlers,        [35] 

ordinarily  fhall  as  certainly  be  performed,  as  if 
the  Witch  had  [35]  lodged  poyfon  in  the  Bowels 
of  her  Neighbour,  or  had  fet  MaflifF  Dogs  on 
them. 

7.  That  the  Witche's  Art  of  applying  the 
Plajiic  Spirit  of  the  World  to  unlawful  purpofes, 
does  Naturally  contribute  to  the  mifchiefs  done 
by  the  Devil. 

8.  That  that  God  which  reftrain'd  an  Abime- 
lich  and  a  Laban  from  hurting,  does  alfo  reftrain 
the  Witch  from  Calling  upon  or  Improving  the 
Devil,  when  he  will  not  have  his  Power  io  ex- 
erted. 

9.  That  to  have  a  Familiar  Spirit,  is  to  be  able 
to  caufe  a  Devil  to  take  bodily  (hapes,  whereby 
either  to  give  refponfes,  or  to  receive  orders  for 
doing  mifchief. 

10.  That  this  is  the  Judgment  of  mofi:  of  the 
Divines  in  the  Countrey,  whether  Englijh,  Dutch 
or  French.^^ 


^^  Dr.  Mather's  Animadverfions  tuous    and    fenfible    Man,  but    let 

on  thefe  "  Ten  Articles "  fhould  be  their    Opinions    about    the    Salem 

read  in  Connexion :     "  When  he  Troubles   be  what   they  will,  they 

fent    about  unto    all   the  Minifters  deteft  it,  as,  a  File  Book ;  as  being 

a    Libellous  Letter   againft   myfelf,  an    intire    Libel    upon    the    whole 

falfely  charging  me  with  writing  in  Government    and    Minijiry    in  the 

a  Manufcript  of  mine   Ten  Articles  Land  ;  yea,  they  think  it  beneath  a 

(which  are  of  his  own  drawing  up)  Minifter  of  the  Gofpel  to  beftow 

whereof  the  chief  are  of  his  own  the  Pains  of  an  Anfwer  upon  it. 

pure  Invention,  there  was  not  one  The  Book  ferves  but  as  an  Engine 

of  all  thofe  reverend  Perfons,  who  to   difcover  (by  their  approbation 

thought  him  worthy  of  an  Anfwer.  of  it)   a  few  Perfons  in   the  Land 

And  now  his  Book  is  come  abroad,  that    will  diftinguilh  themfelves  by 

I  cannot  hear  (and  many  obferve  an  exalted  Malignity^     Some  Few 

the  Like)  of  fo  much  as  one  ver-  Remarks  on  a  Scandalous  Book,'^^-'^. 


[35]        A  Letter  to  the  Minifters,  97 

This  as  I  faid,  I  took  to  be  moft  material  in 
the  four  {heets  fent  to  me  as  his  belief,  and  is  alfo 
all  the  performance  he  has  yet  made  of  his  feve- 
ral  promifes  ;  which  ten  Articles  being  done  only 
by  memory,  left  thro'  miftake  or  want  of  the 
Original,  I  might  have  committed  any  errors,  I 
fent  them  to  him  that,  if  there  were  any,  they 
might  be  rectified :  But  inftead  of  fuch  an  An- 
fwer,  as  might  be  expected  from  a  Minifter  and 
a  learn'd  Gentleman,  one  Mr.  W —  fhewed  me  a 
Letter  writ  by  Mr.  C.  M —  to  himfelf,  which  I 
might  read,  but  neither  borrow  nor  Copy,  and 
fo,  if  I  were  minded,  could  give  but  a  fhort  ac- 
count of  it. 

And  paffing  over  his  hard  Language,  which, 
as  I  am  confcious  to  myfelf ;  I  never  deferv'd, 
(relating  to  my  writing  in  the  margin  of  the 
four  fheets ;  and  to  thefe  ten  Articles)  fo  I  hope 
I  underftand  my  Duty,  better  than  to  imitate 
him  in  retorting  the  like.  Among  his  many 
words  in  his  faid  Letters,  I  meet  with  two  fmall 
Objediions ;  one  is  againft  the  word  [Miracle)  in 
the  firft  Article,  the  word,  I  fay,  not  the  matter, 
for  the  works  he  attributes  to  the  Devil  are  the 
fame  in  their  being  above  or  againft  the  Courfe 
of  Nature  and  all  Natural  caufes,  yet  he  will  not 
admit  of  thefe  to  be  call'd  Miracles.  And  hence 
he  reckon's  it  the  greateft  difficulty  he  meets 
with  in  this  whole  affair,  to  diftinguifti  the  works 
of  the  Devil  from  Miracles.  And  hence  alfo  he 
concedes  to   the   Devil  the  Power  to  make  the 


98  A  Letter  to  the  Minijiers.        [36] 

moft  Solid  things  Invifible,  and  Invifibly  to  bring 
Poyfon  and  force  it  down  Peoples  Throats,  ^c. 
Which  I  look  upon  to  be  as  true  Miracles  as 
that.  2  Kings  vi.  18.  and  this  is  the  fenfe  I 
underftand  the  word  in,  and  in  this  fenfe,  he 
himfelf  in  the  four  fheets  admits  it ;  for  he  has 
an  objection  to  this  effed:.  Viz.  [If  the  Devils 
have  fuch  power,  &c.  then  miracles  are  not 
ceaf 'd ;  and  where  are  we  then  ?  (his  Anfwer  is) 
Where !  even  jufi:  where  we  were  before,  fay  I] 
fo  that  it  feems  the  only  offence  here  is  at  my 
ufing  his  words.  His  fecond  objection  (for 
weight)  is  againft  the  whole  ninth  Article,  and 
wonders  [36]  how  'tis  poffible  for  one  Man  fo 
much  to  mifunderftand  another ;  Yet  as  I  re- 
member, he  fpeaking  of  the  Witch  of  Endor  in 
the  faid  four  fheets  fays,  fhe  had  a  familiar  Spirit, 
and  that  [a  Spirit  belonging  to  the  Invifible 
World,  upon  her  calling  appear'd  to  Saul^  &c. 
and  if  fo  'tis  certain  he  gave  refponfes,  he  alfo 
tells  of  Balaam,  that  it  was  known  that  he  could 
fet  Devils  on  People  to  deftroy  them,  and  there- 
fore how  this  objection  fhould  bear  any  Force  I 
fee  not;  The  reft  of  the  objedlions  are  of  fo 
fmall  weight  that  once  reading  may  be  fufficient 
to  clear  them  up,  and  if  this  be  not  fo,  he  can, 
when  he  pleafes,  by  making  it  Publick  together 
with  the  Margins  I  writ.  Convince  all  People  of 
the  truth  of  what  he  afferts ;  But  here  'tis  to  be 
noted,  that  the  2d.  ^^rd.  \th.  and  ^th  Articles  he 
concedes  to,  as  having  nothing  to  objed:  againft 


[36]        A  Letter  to  the  Minijiers,  99 

them,  but  that  they  are  his  belief;  and  that  the 
6th.  and  jth.  he  puts  for  Anfwer  to  an  objeaion 
which   he   thus  frames.  Viz.  If  the  Devil  have 
fuch  powers  but  cannot  exert  them  but  by  per- 
miffion  from    God,  what  can  the    Witch    con- 
tribute   thereto.      And    thus    I    have    faithfully 
performed  what  I  undertook,  and  do  folemnly 
declare,   I    have   not  intentionally   in    the    leaft 
wronged  the  Gentleman  concerned,  nor  defign'd 
the  leaft  blemifh   to   his  Reputation;    but  if  it 
ftands  in   competition  with  the  Glory  of  God, 
the  only  Almighty   Being,   his   truths   and  his 
Peoples  welfare,  I  fuppofe  thefe  too  valuable  to 
be  trampled  on  for  his  fake,  tho'  in  other  things 
I  am  ready  to  my  power  (tho'  with  denying  fome 
part   of  my  own   intereft)  to   ferve   him.     Had 
this   Gentleman   declined   or   detraded  his   four 
fheets,  I  fee  not  but  he  might  have  done  it,  and 
which  I  think  there  was  caufe  enough  for  him 
to  have  done,  but  to  own  the  four  fheets,  and  at 
the  fame  time  to  difown  the  Doftrine  contain'd 
in  them,  and  this  knowing  that  I  have  no  Copy, 
renders  the  whole  of  the  worfe  afpedt. 

And  now  I  fhall  give  you  a  further  account  of 
my  Belief,  when  I  have  firft  premifed,  that  'tis  a 
prevailing  Belief  in  this  Countrey,  and  elfewhere, 
that  the  Scriptures  are  not  full  in  the  Defcription 
of,  and  in  the  way  and  means  how  to  detect  a 
Witch,  tho'  pofitive  in  their  Punifhment  to  be 
by  Death;  and  that  hence  they  have  thought 
themfelves  under  a  neceffity  of  taking  up  with 
R 


> 


lOO        A  Letter  to  the  Minijiers,        [37] 

the  Sentiments  of  fuch  Men  or  Places  that  are 
thought  worthy  to  give  rules  to  detedl  them  by  : 
And  have  accordingly  pra6tifed,  viz.  In  fearching 
for  Tets  for  the  Devil  to  fuck ;  Trying  whether 
the  fufpedted  can  fay  the  Lords  Prayer ;  And 
whether  the  Afflicted  falls  at  the  fight,  and  rifes 
at  the  touch  of  the  fuppofed  Witch ;  As  alfo  by 
the  Affli6ted  or  PoiTefled  giving  account  who  is 
the  Witch. 

Touching  thefe  my  belief  is,  that  'tis  highly 
Derogatory  to  the  wifdom  of  the  Wife  Lawgiver, 
to  afcert.  That  he  has  given  a  Law  by  Mofes,  the 
Penalty  whereof  is  Death  ;  and  yet  no  direction  to 
his  People,  whereby  to  know  and  deted:  the  cul- 
pable, till  our  Triumvirate  Mr.  [37]  Per  kins  ^  Gaul 
and  Bernard,  had  given  us  their  receits,  and  that 
that  fourth  Head  of  Mr.    Gauls,  being  fo  well 
prov'd  by  Scripture  is  a  truth,  and  contains  a  full 
and  clear  Teftimony,  who  are  Witches  culpable 
of  Death,  and  that  plainly  and   from  Scripture, 
yet  not   excluding  any   other   branch,  when   as 
well  proved  by  that   infallible  rule.     And  that 
the  going  to  the  Afflicted  or  PoffeiTed,  to  have 
them  Divine  who  are  Witches  by  their  Spedteral 
fight,  is  a  great  wickednefs,  even  the  Sin  of  Saul 
(for  which  he  alfo  Died)  but  with  this  difference, 
the  one  did  it  for  Augury,  or  to  know  future 
Events,  the  other  in  order  to  take  away  Life; 
and  that  the  fearching  for  Tets,  the  experiment 
of  their  faying  the  Lords  Prayer ;  the  falling  at 
the  fight  and  rifing  at  the  touch  of  the  fuppofed 


[37]        A  Letter  to  the  Minijters,         10 1 

Criminal,  being  all  of  them  foreign  from  Scrip- 
ture, as  well  as  reafon,  are  abominations  to  be 
abhor'd  and  repented  of.  And  that  our  Salem 
Witchcraft,  either  refpedling  the  Judges  and  Ju- 
ries, their  tendernefs  of  Life,  or  the  Multitude 
and  pertinency  of  witnefTes,  both  Affli6ted  and 
Confeflbrs,  or  the  Integrity  of  the  Hiftorians, 
are  as  Authentic,  and  made  as  certain  as  any  ever 
of  that  kind  in  the  World ;  and  yet  who  is  it 
that  now  fees  not  through  it,  and  that  thefe  were 
the  Sentiments  that  have  procured  the  forefl 
Afflidiion,  and  moft  lafting  infamy  that  ever 
befel  this  Country,  and  moft  like  fo  to  do  again, 
if  the  fame  notions  be  ftill  entertain'd  and  finally 
that  thefe  are  thofe  laft  times,  of  which  the  Spirit 
fpeaks  expreflly,  Tim.  iv.  i.  And  now  ye  that 
are  Fathers  in  the  Churches,  Guides  to  the  People, 
and  the  Salt  of  the  Earth. 

I  befeech  you  confider  thefe  things  ;  and  if  you 
find  the  Glory  of  God  diminifht  by  afcribing 
fuch  power  to  Witches  and  Devils ;  His  truths 
oppof'd  by  thefe  notions  ;  and  his  People  afperfed 
in  their  Doctrines  and  Reputations,  and  indan- 
gered  in  their  Lives ;  I  dare  not  dictate  to  you, 
you  know  your  duty  as  Watchmen,  and  the  Lord 
be  with  you. 

But  if  you  find  my  belief  contrary  to  found 
Dodirine,  I  intreat  you  to  fhew  it  me  by  the 
Scripture ;  And  in  the  mean  time  blame  me  not 
if  I  cannot  believe  that  there  are  feveral  Al- 
mighties ;  for  to  do  all  forts  of  wonders,  beyond 


I02         A  Letter  to  Mr.  S.  W.  [38] 

and  above  the  Courfe  of  Nature,  is  certainly  the 
work  of  Omnipotency .  So  alfo,  he  that  fhall 
Commiffionate  or  Impower  to  thefe,  muft  alfo 
be  Almighty ;  and  I  think  it  not  a  fufficient 
faho,  to  fay  they  may  be  reftrain'd  by  the  moft 
High ;  and  hope  you  will  not  put  any  hard  Con- 
itrudtion  on  thefe  my  Endeavours  to  get  informa- 
tion (all  other  ways  failing)  in  things  fo  needful 
to  be  known;  praying  the  Almightys  Guidance 
and  protection,  I  am 

Yours  to  the  utmoft  of  my  Power, 

R.  C. 

[38]  Bofton,  Sept.  the  20th,  1695. 
Mr.  Samuel  Willard. 
Reverend  Sir, 

MY  former  of  March  the  i8th.  directed  to 
the  Minifters  (and  which  was  lodg'd  with 
yourfelf)  containing  feveral  Articles,  which  I 
fent  as  my  belief,  praying  them  if  I  erred  to 
fhew  it  me  by  Scripture,  I  have  as  yet  had  no 
Anfwer  to,  either  by  word  or  writing,  which 
makes  me  gather  that  they  are  approved  of  as 
Orthodox,  or  at  leaft  that  they  have  fuch  Founda- 
tions, as  that  none  are  willing  to  manifefl:  any 
oppolition  to  them  :  And  therefore  with  fubmif- 
lion,  &c.  I  think  that  that  late  feafonable  and 
well-delign'd  Dialogue  intituled,  Some  mifcella- 
ny  Obfervations,^°  &c.  of  which  yourfelf  is  the 

60  The  Suppofition  was  correft.     referred  to,  printed  in  Philadelphia  in 
There  was  an  Edition  of  the  Work     1692,  in  a  fmall  Quarto  of  16  Pages. 


[38]  A  Letter  to  Mr.  S.  W.         103 

fuppof'd  Author  (and  which  was  fo  ferviceable  in 
the  time  of  it)  is  yet  liable  to  a  male  conftrudtion^ 
even  to  the  endangering  to  revive  what  it  moll 
oppofes,  and  to  bring  thofe  praftices  agam  on 
Foot,  which  in  the  day  thereof  were  fo  terrible 
to  this  whole  Countrey :  The  words  which  1 
fuppofe  fo  liable  to  Mifconftrudtion,  are^^^.  14. 
-^  Who  informed  them  f  S.  the  SpeBre.  B.  very 
g'ood,  and  thafs  the  Devil  turned  Informer  How 
are  good  Men  like  to  fare  againjl  whom  he  hath 
particular  Malice  ! 

It  is  but  a  Prefumption,  and  Wife  Men  will  weigh 
Prefumptions  againji  Prefumptions,  There  ts  to  be 
no  Examination  without  grounds  of  Sufpicton  Some 
Perfons  Credit  ought  to  be  accounted  too  good  to  be 
undermined  fo  far  as  to  be  fufpeBed  on  fo  flight  a 
ground:  and  it  is  an  Injury  done  them  to  bring 
them  upon  Examination,  which  renders  them  openly 
SufpeSed.  I  will  not  deny  but  for  Perfons  already 
fufpeBed  and  of  III  fame,  it  may  occafion  thetr 

Upon  this  Letter  and  the  Work  of  '-"^^'If^^tnlTna^^^^ 

Mr   Willard  Dr.  Mather  remarks,  only  faid  Go  tell  hm  I  hat  the  An 

!v[deXunder   great   Excitement  fv^er  to  him  and  hs  Letter  ts  m  the 

and  Indignation  as'refpeas  the  For-  ^^enty  Sixth  of  the  Proverbs,  and 

mer  •     "  I  remember  that  when  this  the  Fourth. 

mLble  Man  fent  unto  an  eminent  Mr.  Willard's    Silence  was  un- 

Minfte    in  the  Town,  a  Libellous  doubtedly  owing  to  a  very  different 

Tmer^   reflefting  both  on  a  Judi-  Caufe  than  that  given  by  D.  Ma- 

cious  bifcourfe  written  by  him,  and  ther      It  i»  fairly  inferabk  that  Mr 

on  the  Holy  Propofals  made  by  the  Willard  was  too  good  a  Logician 

Pr^fident  and  Fellows  of  Harvard-  not  to  fee  that  Mr  Calef  ^^J^^ 

Colleze  about  recording  of  Remark-  ment  did  not  admit  of  Refutation 

M^Cidences,  and  then  he  de-  and  that  ^s  own  Reputation  would 

manded  and  expefted   an  Anfwer  be  beft  conferved  by  Silence. 


104-  A  Letter  to  Mr,  S.  W.         [39] 

being  examined.  In  which  thefe  words  ('tis  but  a 
prefumption,  &c.)  (and  fome  Perfons  credit,  &c.) 
(and  I  will  not  deny  but  for  Perfons  already  fuf- 
pecSted,  &c.)  this  I  take  to  be  waving  to  difcufs 
thofe  points,  the  fpeaking  to  which  might  at  that 
time  have  hindered  the  ufefulnefs  and  fuccefs  of 
that  Book,  rather  than  any  declaring  the  Senti- 
ments of  the  Author.  But  notwithftanding  many 
Perfons  will  be  ready  to  underftand  this,  as  if  the 
Author  did  wholly  leave  it  with  the  Juftice,  to 
Judge  who  are  111  Perfons,  fuch  as  the  Devils 
Accufations  may  faften  upon  ;  And  that  the  Devils 
Accufation  of  a  Perfon,  is  a  Prefumption  againft 
them  of  their  guilt ;  and  that  upon  fuch  prefump- 
tions,  they  may  be  had  to  Examination,  if  the 
Juftice  counts  them  Perfons  of  ill  fame  (for  the 
Author  I  fuppofe  knows  that  the  bear  Examina- 
tion will  leave  fuch  a  ftain  upon  them,  and  well 
if  their  Pofterity  efcape  it !)  as  the  length  of  a 
Holy  and  unblameable  Life  will  be  found  too 
fhort  to  Extirpate.  And  if  the  Juftice  may  go 
thus  far  with  the  Devils  Evidence,  then  the  addi- 
tion of  a  ftory  or  two  of  fome  Cart  overfet,  or 
perfon  taken  Sick  after  a  quarrel,  might  as  well 
be  thought  fufficient  for  their  Commitment,  in 
order  to  [39]  their  Tryal  as  'tis  call'd  (tho'  this 
too  often  has  been  more  like  a  Stage  Play,  or  a 
Tragicomical  Scene)  and  fo  that  other  ways  ufeful 
Book,  may  prove  the  greateft  Snare  to  revive  the 
fame  prad:ices  again. 

Thefe  things  being  fo  liable,  as  I  faid,  to  fuch 


[39]        A  Letter  to  Mr,  S.  W.  105 

male-confl:ru6tion,  it  were  needful  that  Men 
might  be  undeceiv'd,  and  the  matter  more  fully 
demonstrated,  (Viz.)  That  the  Devils  Accufation 
is  not  fo  much  as  any  prefumption  againft  the 
Life  or  Reputation  of  any  perfon,  for  how  are 
good  Men  like  to  fare,  if  his  malicious  accufa- 
tions  may  be  taken  as  a  prefumption  of  their 
Guilt ;  and  that  his  accufations  as  they  are  no 
prefumption  againft  perfons  of  unfpotted  Fame, 
fo  neither  are  to  be  heard,  or  any  ways  regarded 
againft  perfons  tho'  otherways  of  ill  Life,  much 
lefs  for  their  having  long  fince  had  their  Names 
abufed  by  his  outcries,  or  by  the  Malice  of  111 
Neighbours ;  and  that  Juftice  knows  no  difference 
of  Perfons  ;  that  if  this  Evidence  be  fuliicient  to 
bring  one  perfon  'tis  fo  to  bring  any  other  to 
Examination,  and  confequently  to  the  utmoft 
extent  of  odium,  which  fuch  Examination  will 
certainly  expofe  them  to,  for  who  can  know  any 
other,  but  that  as  the  one  may  be  Malicioufly 
accufed  by  Devils  and  a  Devilifh  report  gone  be- 
fore it;  fo  that  another  who  has  not  been  fo 
much  as  accufed  before,  being  more  Cunning  or 
more  feeming  Religious,  might  yet  be  more 
guilty  ;  the  whole  depending  upon  Invifible  Evi- 
dence, of  which  Invifible  ftuff,  tho'  we  have  had 
more  than  fufficient,  yet  I  find  (among  other 
Reverend  Perfons)  your  Names  to  a  certain  Printed 
Paper,  which  runs  thus. 


.  ■* 


io6         Propofals  to  the  Prefident,        [40] 

Certain  Propofals^ ^  made  by  the  Prejtdent 
and  Fellows  of  Harvard  College^  to  the 
Reverend  Minijiers  of  the  Gofpel^  in  the 

..    feveral  Churches  of  New-England. 

Firji,  To  obferve  and  record  the  more  Illujirious 
Difcoveries  of  the  Divine  Providence  in  the 
Government  of  the  World,  is  a  defign  fo  holy,  fo 
ufeful,  fo  jujily  approved,  that  the  too  general  negleB 
of  it  in  the  Churches  of  God,  is  as  jujily  to  be  La- 
mented. 

2.  For  the  redrefs  of  that  negleB,  alt  ho"  all 
Chrijiians  have  a  Duty  incumbent  on  them,  yet  it  is 
in  a  peculiar  manner  to  be  recommended  unto  the 
Minijiers  of  the  Gofpel,  to  improve  the  fpecial  ad- 
vantages which  are  in  their  Hands,  to  obtain  and 
preferve  the  knowledge  of  fuch  notable  occurrences 
as  are  fought  out  by  all  that  have  pleafure  in  the 
great  Works  of  the  Lord. 

3.  'The  things  to  be  ejieemed  Memorable,  are  fpe- 
cially  all  unufual  accidents  in  the  Heaven,  or  Earth, 

61  Concerning  this  curious  Paper,  the  Field  for  the  Purpofe  of  giving 

Quincy,  in  Hijl.  Harvard  College,  Countenance    to    that   Belief,   and 

remarks:     "As  the  Belief  in   the  of  fuftaining  this  decaying  Faith." 

Agency  of  the  Jnvifible  World  be-  This  was  "  prepared  by  both  the 

gan  to   lelTen,  and  fome  of  thofe,  Mathers,  and  figned  by  the  whole 

who  were   the  chief  Aftors  in  the  Board,   and    circulated    throughout 

Tragedy,  to    feel    the    Weight    of  New  England." — Vol.  I,  Page  62. 

pubhc    Indignation    preffing    upon  The  Signers  will  all  be  found  duly 

them,  they  being  Members  of  the  noticed  in  Dr.  Allen's  Biographical 

Corporation,  brought  this  Body  into  DiSlionary. 


[40]        Propofals  to  the  Prejident.  107 

or  Water,  All  wonderful  Deliverances  of  the  Dif- 
trejfed.  Mercies  to  the  Godly,  Judgments  on  the 
Wicked,  and  more  Glorious  fulfihnents  of  either  the 
Promifes  or  Threatnings  in  the  Scriptures  of  Truth, 
with  Apparitions,  PoJJeJ/ions,  Enchant??ients,  and  all 
extraordinary  things,  wherein  the  Exijlence  and 
Agency  of  the  Invifble  World  is  more  fenfbly  de- 
monjirated. 

[40]  4.  //  is  therefore  Propofed,  That  the  Min- 
ijiers  throughout  this  Land,  would  manifeft  their 
regards  unto  the  Works  of  the  Lord,  and  the  Oppe- 
ration  of  his  hands,  by  reviving  their  cares  to  take 
Written  Accounts  of  fuch  Remarkables :  But  fill 
well  Attefied  with  credibled  and  fuficient  Witnefs. 

5.  //  is  defred  that  the  Accounts,  thus  taken  of 
thefe  Remarkables,  may  hefent  in  unto  the  Prelident/^ 
or  the  Fellows  of  the  Colledge,  by  whome  they  fh all  be 
carefully  referved  for  fuch  a  ufe  to  be  made  of  them, 
as  ?nay  by  fome  fit  AJfembly  of  Miniflers  be  Judged 
moft  conducing  to  the  Glory  of  God,  and  the  Service 
of  his  People. 

6.  Thd  we  doubt  not,  that  love  to  the  Name  of 
God  will  be  motive  enough  unto  all  good  Men,  to 
Contribute  what  AJJiJiance  they  can  unto  this  Under  - 
taking;  yet  for  further  Incouragement,  fome  fngu- 
lar  Marks  of  RefpeBs  Jhall  be  ftudied  for  fuch  good 
Men,   as  will  aBually  ajfft  it,   by  taking  pains  to 

"~  It  will  be  remembered  that  the  dences,  which,  doubtlefs,  met  with 
Prefident  (Mather)  had  publifhed  a  ready  Sale,  and  induced  a  Defire 
a    Volume    of  Remarkable  Provi-     for  another. 


io8  A  Letter  to  Mr,  S.  W.         [40] 

Communicate  any  Important   Pajfages  proper  to  be 
infer  ted  in  this  ColleBion. 

Increafe  Mather,  Prefident. 

James  Allen, 

Char.  Morton, 

Sam.  Willard, 

Cotton  Mather, )  Fellows. 

yohn  Leverett, 

Will.  Brattle, 

Neh.  Walter, 
Cambr.  March  5,  169I 

Here  being  an  Encouragement  to  all  good 
Men,  to  fend  in  fuch  remarkables  as  are  therein 
exprelTed,  I  have  fent  the  following,  not  that  I 
think  them  a  more  fenfible  demonftration  of  the 
being  of  a  future  State  (with  Rewards  and  Pun- 
ifhments)  or  of  Angels  good  and  bad,  ^c.  than 
the  Scriptures  of  truth  hold  forth,  &c.  Or  than 
any  of  thofe  other  demonftrations  God  hath  given 
ue ;  for  this  were  Treacheroufly  and  Perfidioully 
to  quit  the  Poft  to  the  Enemy,  the  Sadducee,  Deiji, 
and  Atheiji  would  hereby  be  put  in  a  condition 
fo  Triumphantly  to  deny  the  Exiftence  and 
Agency  thereof.  As  that  a  few  Stories  told 
(which  at  beft  muft  be  owned  to  be  fallible  and 
liable  to  mifreprefentations)  could  not  be  thought 
Infallibly  fufficient  to  demonftrate  the  truth 
againft  them.  I  have  heard  that  in  Logick  a 
falfe  Argument  is  reckon'd  much  worfe  than 
none :  Yet  fuppoling   that   a  Collection  of  In- 


[4i]  A  Letter  to  Mr.  S.  W.  109 

fiances  may  be  many  ways  ufeful,  not  only  to  the 
prefent  but  fucceeding  Ages,  I  have  fent  you  the 
following  femarkables,which  have  lately  occurred, 
the  certainty  of  which,  if  any  fcruple  it,  will  be 
found  no  hard  matter  to  get  fatisfaction  therein  : 
But  here,  not  to  infift  on  thofe  lefs  occurrents,  as 
the  fudden  Death  of  one  of  our  late  Juftices,^^ 
and  a  like  Mortallity  that  fell  upon  the  two  Sons 
of  another  of  them,  with  the  Fall  of  a  Man  that 
was  making  provifion  to  raife  the  New  Northern 
Bell,  which,  when   it  was   up,    the   firft   perfon, 
whofe  death  it  was   to  fignifie,  was  faid   to  be  a 
Child  of  him,   who   by  Printing   and   fpeaking, 
had  had  as  great  hand  in  procur[4i]ing  the  late 
Aaions  as  any,  if  not  the  greateft  ;  and  the  Split- 
ting the  Gun  at  Salem,  where  that  furious  Mar- 
•ihal,  and  his  Father,  ^c.  was  rent  to  pieces,^^  ^c. 
As  to  all  thefe  it   muft   be  owned,  that   no  rnan 
knows  love  or  hatred  by  all  that   is  before   him, 
much  lefs  can  they  be  more  fenfible    demonftra- 
tions  of  the  Exiftence  or  Agency  of  the  Invijible 
World,  than  the  fcriptures  of  Truth  afford,  &c. 

fis  To  which  of  the  Juftices  the  Cafes  of  Witchcraft."— Felt,  An- 

Author  refers  is  not  certain,  as  Mr.  nals  of  Salem,  ii,  480.     The  Death 

Danforth  and  Mr.  Sakonftall,  two  of  George    Herrick   is   noticed  _  in 

of  them,  were  dead  when  he  wrote,  the  Herrick  Genealogy,   as   having 

The  Latter  died  in  1694,  and  the  occurred   in  1695,    but   nothing  is 

Former  in  1699.  faid  of  any  Cafualty.      Mr.  Savage 

61  "  That  furious  Marfhal "  was  fuppofes  Him  to  be  the  fame  who 

George  Herrick,  who,  in  Odober,  came  over  in    1685,   in   the   Ship 

1692,  ftated,  that  "for  nine  Months  with  John  Dunton,  who,  John  fays 

his  whole  Time  had  been  confumed  faved    his  Life  at  Sea. — Life   and 

as  Marfhal  and  Deputy  Sheriff,  in  Errors,  1 26-7. 


no         A  Letter  to  Mr,  S.  W.  [4.1] 

tho'  the  Rich  Man  in  the  Parable  might  think 
otherwife,  ^c.  who  was  feeking  to  fend  fome 
more  fenfible  Demonftrations  thereof  to  his 
Brethren,  ^c.  In  that  Tremendous  Judgment 
of  God  upon  this  Countrey,  by  the  late  amazing 
Profecution  of  the  People  here,  under  the  Notion 
of  Witches ;  whereby  20  Suffered  as  Evil  doers 
(belides  thofe  that  died  in  Prifon)  about  ten  more 
Condemned,  and  a  hundred  Imprifoned,  and 
about  two  hundred  more  Accufed,  and  the  Coun- 
trey generally  in  fears,  when  it  would  come  to 
their  turn  to  be  Accufed  ;  and  the  Profecution  and 
manner  of  Tryal  fuch,  that  moil  would  have  cho- 
fen  to  have  fallen  into  the  hands  of  the  Barba- 
rous Enemy,  rather  than  (under  that  notion)  into 
the  hands  of  their  Brethren  in  Church  Fellow- 
fhip ;  and  in  fhort,  was  fuch  an  Affliction  as  far 
exceeded  all  that  ever  this  Countrey  hath  laboured 
under. 

Yet  in  this  Mount,  God  is  feen ;  when  it  was 
thus  bad  with  this  diflrelTed  People,  a  full  and  a 
fudden  flop  is  put,  not  only  without,  but  againfl 
the  Inclination  of  many,  for  out  of  the  Eater 
came  forth  Meat :  Thofe  very  Accufers  which 
had  been  improved  as  Witneffes  againft  fo  many, 
by  the  Providence  of  the  mofl  High,  and  perhaps 
1  blinded  with  Malice,  are  left  to  accufe  thofe  in 
'.  moft  High  efleem,  both  Magiftrates  and  Minif- 
ters,  as  guilty  of  Witchcraft,  which  fhewed  our 
Rulers,  that  necefflty  lay  upon  them,  to  confound 
that  which  had  fo  long  confounded  the  Countrey, 


[+2] 


A  Letter  to  Mr,  S.  W.  1 1 1 


as  being  unwilling  themfelves  to  run  the  fame 
Rifque,  this  that  was  in  the  Event  of  it  to  this 
Countrey,  as  Life  from  the  Dead,  is  moil  eafie 
with  him,  in  whofe  Hands  are  the  Hearts  of  all 
Men,  and  was  a  very  lignal  deliverance  to  this 
whole  Countrey.  No  lefs  Obfervable  was  it,  that 
tho'  at  the  time  when  the  Devils  Teftimony,  by 
the  Afflicted,  was  firft  laid  alide,  there  were  great 
Numbers  of  (real  or  pretended)  Afflicted :  Yet 
when  this  was  once  not  Judged  of  Validity 
enough  to  be  any  longer  brought  into  the  Court 
againft  the  Accufed  as  Evidence,  the  Affliction 
generally  ceafed,  and  only  fome  remainders  of  it 
in  fuch  places,  where  more  Encouragement  was 
given  to  the  Actors,  God  feeming  thereby  plainly 
to  Decipher  that  Sin  of  going  to  the  Devil,  &c, 
as  the  rife  and  foundation  of  thofe  Punifhments. 
And  thus,  Reverend  Sir,  I  have,  as  I  under- 
fland  it,  performed  my  Duty  herein,  for  the 
Glory  of  God,  and  the  well-being  of  Men. 
And  for  my  Freedome  ufed  in  this,  and  former 
Writings,  relating  to  the  A6tors  in  this  Tragedy, 
I  fhall  not  Apologize,  but  give  you  the  words 
of  one  to  [42]  whom  fome  can  afford  the 
title  of  Venerable  (when  he  is  arguing  for  that 
which  they  have  undertaken  to  afcert,  tho'  at 
other  times,  more  Diminutive  Epithete,  muft 
serve)  it  is  the  Reverend  Mr.  R.  Baxter  in  his 
Book,  the  Cure  of  Church  Divijtons,  p.  257,  258. 
But  (I  pray  you  mark  it)  the  way  of  God  is  to 
Jhame  the  Sinner ^  how  good  foever  in  other  refpeBs^ 


112  A  Letter  to  Mr,  S.  W.  [42] 

T^hat  the  Jin  may  have  the  greater  Jhame,  and  Reti- 
gion  may  not  be  Jhamed,  as  if  it  allowed  ??ten  to  Jin; 
Nor  God  the  Author  of  Religion  he  Dijhonoured ; 
Nor  others  be  without  the  Warning ;  But  the  'Way 
of  the  Devil  is,  to  hide  or  jujlifie  the  fn,  as  if  it 
were  for  fear  of  Difpar aging  the  goodnefs  of  the 
Perfons  that  committed  it ;  that  fo  he  may  hereby 
Dijhonour  Religion  and  Godlinefs  it f elf  and  make 
men  helieve  it  is  but  a  Cover  for  any  Wickednefs, 
and  as  confjient  with  it,  as  a  loofer  Life  is,  and 
that  he  may  keep  the  Sinner  from  Repenting,  and 
blot  out  the  Memory  of  that  warning,  which  Jhould 
have  preferved  After -Ages  from  the  like  falls. 
Scripture  Jhameth  the  Profejfors,  [thd  a  David,  a 
Solomon,  Peter,  Noah,  or  Lot)  that  the  Religion 
profejl  ?nay  not  be  Jhamed  but  vindicated:  Satan 
would  preferve  the  Honour  of  Profejfors,  that  the 
Religion  profejfed  may  bear  the  Jhame ;  andfo  it  may 
fall  on  God  himfelf 

And  now  that  all  that  have  had  a  hand  in  any 
horrid  and  bloody  practices  may  be  brought  to 
give  glory  to  God,  and  take  the  due  fhame  to 
themfelves ;  and  that  our  Watchmen  may  no 
longer  feek  to  palliate  (much  lefs  give  thanks  for) 
fuch,  &c.  (thereby  making  them  their  own)  and 
that  the  people  may  no  longer  perifh  for  want  of 
knowledge  in  the  midft  of  fuch  means  of  light ; 
Nor  God  be  any  longer  di(honoured  by  falfe  fen- 
timents  in  thefe  matters,  is  the  earneft  delire  and 
prayer  of,  Sir,  yours  to  my  power. 

R.  C. 


[+3] 


A  Letter  to  Mr.  C.  M.  113 


Mr.  Cotton  Mather. 
Reverend  Sir, 

HAVING  long  fince  fent  you  fome  do6lrinals 
as  to  my  belief,  together  with  my  requeft 
to  you,  that  if  I  erred  you  would  be  pleafed  to 
fhew  it  me  by  fcripture,  viz.  That  the  Devils 
bounds  are  fet  which  he  cannot  pafs ;  That  the 
Devils  are  fo  full  of  malice  that  it  cannot  be  add- 
ed to  by  mankind  ;  That  wher-e  he  hath  power  he 
neither  can  nor  will  omit  executing  it ;  That  'tis 
only  the  Almighty  that  fets  bounds  to  his  rage, 
and  that  only  can  commiffionate  him  to  hurt  and 
deftroy,  &c.  But  inftead  of  fuch  an  Anfwer  as 
was  promifed,  and  juftly  expelled,  you  were 
pleafed  to  fend  me  a  Book,  which  you  lince  call'd 
an  ungainfayable  one ;  which  Book  till  lately  I 
have  not  had  opportunity  fo  fully  to  confider. 
And  to  the  end  you  may  fee  I  have  now  done  it, 
I  have  fent  to  you  fome  of  the  remarkables  con- 
tained in' the  faid  Book,  Intituled, 

[43]  The  Certainty  of  the  World  of  Spirits^ 
written  by  Mr,  R.  B.^5  London,  Printed, 
1 69 1. 

IT  is  therein  conceded  (Preface)  That  to  fee  Devils 
and  Spirits  ordinarily  would  not  be  enough  to 
convince  Atheifts.     Page  88.  Atheifts  are  not  to 

^5  Richard    Baxter.       William     Sermon  on  the  Death  of  the  great 
Bates,  D.D.,  preached  an  excellent     Divine,  and  gives  an  Account  of 


1 14         A  Letter  to  Mr.  C.  M.  [43]  ^ 

be  convinced  by  ftories,  their  own  fenfes  are  not 
enough  to  convince  them  any  more  than  fenfe 
will  convince  a  Papift  from  Tranfubftantiation. 
(D.  Laderd.)  P.  4.  No  Spirit  can  do  any  thing 
but  by  God's  will  and  permiffion.  [Preface)  'Tis 
the  free  will  of  Man  that  gives  the  Devils  their 
hurting  power  :  And  without  our  own  confent 
they  cannot  hurt  us.  [It  is  ajferted.  P.  222,  223,) 
That  it  is  a  perverfe  oppolition  of  Popery  which 
caufes  many  Proteflants  not  to  regard  the  benefits 
we  receive  by  Angels.  And  Minifters  are  faulty, 
that  do  not  pray  and  give  thanks  to  God  for  their 
Miniftry ;  and  that  negled:  to  teach  Believers, 
what  love  and  what  thanks  they  owe  to  Angels. 
P.  225.  Moft  good  people  look  fo  much  to  God 
and  to  Minifters,  that  they  take  little  notice  of 
Angels,  which  are  God's  great  Minifters.  P.  234. 
The  Author  dares  not,  as  fome  have  done,  judge 
the  Catholick  Church  to  become  Anti-Chriftian 
Idolaters,  as  foon  as  they  gave  too  much  Worfhip 
to  Saints  and  Angels.  P.  7.  The  BlelTed  Souls 
fhall   be   like  the  Angels,  therefore  may  appear 

his  Books,  but  fays  nothing  of  that  land,  the  Day  before  he  died;  and, 
whofe  Title  is  given  above;  doubt-  fpeaking  fome  comforting  Words  to 
lefs  for  the  fame  Reafon  mentioned  him,  he  replied,  *I  have  Pain; 
by  our  Author,  namely:  that  it  there  is  no  arguing  againft  Senfe; 
was  written  or  aflented  to  by  him  but  1  have  Peace.'  To  Mr.  Ma- 
in his  Dotage.  Dr.  Bates  was  a  ther,  he  faid,  *I  blefs  God  that  you 
Friend  and  Acquaintance  of  Dr.  have  accomplifht  your  Bufinefs,  the 
Increafe  Mather.  In  his  Sermon,  Lord  prolong  your  Life.'  " — Page 
above  cited,  he  fays :  "  I  went  to  1 29-30.  See  Page  1 1  of  this  Vol- 
Mr.  Baxter  with  a  very  worthy  ume  for  the  Author's  fenfible  Re- 
Friend,  Mr.  Mather,  of  New  Eng-  marks  on  Mr.  Baxter's  Book. 


[43]  ^  I^^/^^^  to  Mr,  CM.  115 

here,  P.  3,  4.     'Tis  hard  to  know  whether  it  be 
a  Devil  or  a  human  Soul  that  appears,  or  whether 
the  Soul  of  a  good  or  a  bad  perfon.    P.  61.  or  the 
Soul   of  fome   dead   friend  that   fuffers,  and   yet 
retains  love,  ^c    P.  222.    No  doubt  the  Souls  of 
the  wicked   carry  with  them  their  former  mcli- 
nations  of  Covetoufnefs,  Revenge,  ^c.  P.  7.  When 
Revengeful  things  are  done,  as  on  Murderers,  De- 
frauders,  &c.  it  feems  to  be  from  the  revengeful 
wrath  of  fome  bad  Soul,  if  it  be  about  Money  or 
Lands,  then  from  a  Worldly  minded  one ;  fome 
fiP-nifications  of   God's   mercy   to   wicked    Souls 
after  this  Life.     P.  4-  'Tis  a  doubt  whether  be- 
fides  the  Angels  (good  and  bad)  and  the  Souls  ot 
men,  there  is  not   a  third  fort,  call'd  Fanes  and 
Goblins.     It  is  unfearchable  to  us  how  far  God 
leaves  Spirits  to  freewill  in  fmall  things,  fufpend- 
inff  his  predetermining  motion. 

P.  246.  The  Devils  have  a  Marvellous  power, 
if  but  a   filly  wretched  Witch  confent.     P.    10. 
202.  The  ftories  of  Witches  and  Spirits  are  many 
ways  ufeful,  particularly  to  convince  Atheifts,  and 
confirm  BeUevers,  and  to  prove  the  Operation  of 
Spirits.     P.  232.  To  help  men  to  underftand  that 
Devils  make  no  fmall  number  of  Laws,  and  Rulers 
in  the  World,  and   are  Authors  of  moft  of  the 
Wars,  and  of  many  Sermons,  and  of  Books  that 
adorn  the  Liberaries  of  learned  men.     P.  6.  102. 
The  Devil's  lying  with  the  Witch  is  not  to  be 
denied,  and  is  more  to  Exercife  the  Luft  of  the 
Witch  than  of  the  Devil,  who  can  alfo  bring  in 
T 


ii6         A  Letter  to  Mr.  C.  M.         [44] 

another  Witch  with[44]out  opening  the  door, 
and  fo  perform  it  by  one  Witch  with  another. 
P.  105.  Witches  can  raife  Storms,  fell  Winds,  ^c. 
as  is  commonly  affirmed.  P.  107.  In  America 
'tis  a  common  thing  to  fee  Spirits  day  and  night. 
P.  95,  96,  97,  no.  Stories  of  a  Child  that  could 
not  be  cured  of  Witchcraft,  becaufe  the  Emher^^- 
weeks  were  paft.  Vomited  a  Knife  a  fpan  long. 
Cart  Nails,  &c.  neither  eat  nor  drank  fifteen  days 
and  nights  together ;  a  long  piece  of  Wood,  four 
Knives,  and  two  'fharp  pieces  of  Iron,  ev'ry  one 
above  a  fpan  long,  taken  out  of  the  Stomach,  &c. 
Hair,  Stones,  Bones,  Vomited,  &c.  1000  1.  of 
Blood  loft  by  one  perfon  in  a  years  time. 

P.  250.  A  ftory  that  makes  the  Author  think 
it  poffible  that  fuch  great  things  (as  he  mentions) 
fliould  be  gotten  down  and  up  Peoples  Throats. 

P.  164.  Partial  credibility  fpoils  many  a  good 
ftory. 

P.  125.  The  Devil's  fubftance  enters  into  the 
pofTelTed. 

P.  174.  Diftrad:ed  are  pofTelTed. 

^^  The  Days  of  certain   Weeks  Ember-weeks.     "  Ember-days  were 

fet  apart  by  the  Roman  Catholic  fo  called,  from  the  Word  Ember, 

Church  for  Fafting  and  Prayer,  in  /.  e.,  Afhes;  becaufe  in  old  Times 

the     four     Seafons    of    the    Year,  the   Fathers  uf'd  to  fprinkle  them- 

Wednefday,   Friday  and   Saturday  felves  with  Afhes;  or  from  the  Cuf- 

after  the  firft  Sunday  in  Lent,  the  torn    of   eating    nothing    on    thofe 

Feaft  of  Whitfuntide,  the   14th  of  Days  till  Night,  and  then  only  a 

September,    and    the    13  th  of  De-  Cake,    baked    under    the    Embers, 

cember,  are  the  Ember-days ;  and  which  was    thence    called   Ember- 

the  Weeks  in  which  they  occur  are  bread." — Phillips  and  Kerfey. 


[4-4]         A  Letter  to  Mr,  CM..  117 

P.  149.  A  fick  Woman  while  ihe  lay  in  bed 
went  to  fee  her  Children. 

P.  153.  A  Dog  appeared  like  a  Fly  or  a  Flea. 
P*.  165.  Some  knowing  Agents  direfts  Thunder 
ftorms,  tho'  the  Author  knows  not  who,  and  that 
they  fo  often  fall  on  Churches  he  knows  not  why. 
P.  2,  80.  Mr.  J.  M.  and  Mr.   C.  M.  Recom- 
mended together  with  Bodin,  &c. 

P.  237.  A  Crifpian,  if  through  Ignorance  he 
believes  not  what  he  faith,  may  be  a  Chriftian. 

In  this.  Sir,  I  fuppofe  that  if  I  have  not  wronged 
the  fenfe  of  the    Author    in    the    places    quoted 
(which  I  truft  you  fhall  not  find  I  have  done)  I 
can't  be   thought    accountable  for  the  Errors  or 
Contradiaions  to  himfelf  or  to  the  truth,  if  any 
fuch  be  found,  particularly  what  he  grants  m  the 
Preface  (of  the  freewill  of  Man,  giving  the  Devil 
his  hurting  power.)     This  being  not  only  more 
than  thofe  call'd  Witch-Advocates  would  defire  to 
be  conceded  to  them  :  But  is  a  palpable  and  man- 
ifeft   overturning   the   Authors   defign   in  all  his 
Witch  ftories.     For  who  would  confent  to  have 
the  Devil  afflia  himfelf?     As  alfo  his  conceffion 
[that  no  Spirit  can  do  any  thing  but  by  God's 
will  and  permiffion,]  I   cannot   perfwade   myfelf 
but  you  muft  be  fenfible  of  their  apparent  con- 
tradidorinefs  to  the  reft.     Others  there  are  of  a 
very  ill  afpedl,  as  p.  234.  the  Catholicks  are  much 
encouraged    in    their    Adoration    of  Angels    and 
Saints.     If  that  were  fo  Innocent  as  not  to  render 
them  Anti-chriftian   Idolaters;    and  that />.  4.  if 


1 1 8  A  Letter  of  Mr,  C.  M.         [4.5] 

admitted,  will  feem  to  lay  an  ungainfayable  found- 
ation for  the  Fagan,  Indian,  and  DiaholiJIs  Faith  ; 
by  telling  us  it  is  beyond  our  fearch  to  know  how 
far  God  leaves  the  Devils  to  free-will,  to  do  what 
they  pleafe,  in  this  World,  with  a  fufpenlion  of 
God's  Predetermination ;  which  if  it  [45]  were 
a  truth,  what  were  more  rational  than  to  oblige 
%:  him  that  has  fuch  power  over  us.  The  Atheifts 
alfo  would  take  encouragement  if  it  were  granted 
that  we  cannot  know  how  far  God  fufpends  his 
predetermining  motion,  he  would  thence  affirm, 
we  as  little  know  that  there  is  a  predetermining 
motion,  and  confequently  whether  there  be  a 
God,  and  p.  165.  would  abundantly  ftrengthen 
them,  when  fuch  a  Learned,  experienced,  and 
highly  efteemed  Chriftian  fhall  own  that  he 
knows  not  who  'tis  that  governs  the  Thunder- 
ftorms ;  for  it  might  as  well  difcover  ignorance, 
who  'tis  that  difpofes  of  Earthquakes,  Gun-fhot, 
and  afflictions  that  befall  any,  with  the  reft  of 
Mundane  Events.  I  delign  not  to  remark  all  that 
in  the  Book*  is  remarkable,  fuch  as  the  departed 
Souls  wandering  again  hither  to  put  men  upon 
revenge,  &c.  favouring  fo  much  of  Pithagoras 
his  Tranfmigration  of  Souls,  and  the  Separation 
of  the  Soul  from  the  Body  without  death,  as  in 
the  cafe  of  her  that  went  to  fee  her  Children, 
while  yet  fhe  did  not  ftir  out  of  her  Bed,  which 
feems  to  be  a  new  fpeculation  ;  unlefs  it  determins 
in  favour  of  Tranfubftantiation,  that  a  Body  may 
be  at  the  fame  time  in  feveral  places.     Upon  the 


[45] 


A  Letter  to  Mr,  C.  M.  119 


whole  it  is  ungainfayable,  That  that  Book,  though 
fo  highly  extol'd,  may  be  juftly  expected  to  occa- 
lion  the  ftaggering  of  the  weak,  and  the  harden- 
ing of  unbelievers  in  their  Infidelity.  And  it 
feems  amazing,  that  you  (hould  not  only  give  it 
fuch  a  recommend,  but  that  you  fhould  fend  it  to 
me,  in  order  (as  I  take  it)  to  pervert  me  from  the 
belief  of  thofe  fundamental  Dodlrinals  (above  re- 
cited) Though  I  account  them  more  firm  than 
Heaven  and  Earth.  But  that  which  is  yet  more 
flrange  to  me,  is  that  Mr.  B  his  Friends  did  not 
advife  him  better,  than  in  his  declined  Age  to 
emit  fuch  crude  matter  to  the  public.  As  to  the 
fometime  Reverend  Author,  let  his  works  praife 
the  Remembrance  of  him  ;  but  for  fuch  as  are 
either  Erroneous  and  foifted  upon  him,  or  the 
effed;  of  an  aged  Imbecillity,  let  them  be  detected 
that  they  may  proceed  no  further.^^ 

I  am  not  ignorant  that  the  manner  of  Educa- 
tion of  Youth  in,  I  think,  almoft  all  Chriftian 
Schools  hath  a  natural  tendency  to  propagate 
thofe  Doctrines  of  Devils  heretofore  (folely)  pro- 
feft  among  Ethnicks,^^  and  particularly  in  matters 
of  Witchcraft,  &c.  For  notwithflanding  the 
Council  of  Carthage  their  taking  notice  that  the 
Chriflian  Doctors  did  converfe  much  with  the 
writings  of  the  Heathens  for  the  gaining  of  Elo- 
quence, forbad  the  reading  of  the  Books  of  the 

^■^  See  Note  6i.  denominated  Ethnics.     All  Unbe- 

^^^^\iz  Ethnics  ox  Ethnicks.   The     lievers  in  the  Religion  of  the  Jews 
Gentiles   of  ancient    Times    were     and  Chriftians. 


I20         A  Letter  to  Mr,  C.  M.         [46] 

Gentiles ;  yet  it  feems  this  was  only  a  Bill  without 
a  penalty,  which  their  fucceffors  did  not  look 
upon  to  be  binding.  He  that  fhould  in  this  age 
take  a  view  of  the  Schools,  might  be  induced  to 
believe  that  the  ages  lince  have  thought,  that 
without  fuch  Heathen  Learning  a  man  cannot  be 
fo  accomplifli'd,  as  to  have  any  pretence  to  Aca- 
demick  Literature :  and  that  the  vulgar  might 
not  be  without  the  benefit  of  fuch  Learning, 
fome  of  their  Dif[46]ciples  have  taught  them  to 
fpeak  Rnglifh,  which  has  given  me  the  opportu- 
nity to  fend  you  thefe  following  Verfes. 

Virg.    Buco-     Sure  love  is  not  the  cauje  their  bones  appear. 
licks.  Some  eyes  bewitch  my  tender  Lambs  I  fear. 

Eclog.  13. —     For  me  thefe  Herbs  in  Pontus  Maris  chofe. 

Eclog.    8. —      There  ev'ry  powerful  Drug  in  plenty  grows  ; 
Transform' d  to  a  Wolf  I  often  Maeris/72c, 
Then  into  jhady  Woods  him f elf  withdraw : 
Oft  he  from  deepejl  Sepulchers  would  Charm 
Departed  Souls.     And  from  anothers  Farm, 
Into  his  own  ground  Corn  yet  Jlanding  take. 
Now  from  the  Town  my  Char 7ns  bring  Daphnis  back. 
Vanquijht  with  charms  from  Heaven  the  Moon  Defends. 
Circe  with  charms  transformed  \J\ySts  friends : 
Charms  in  the  Field  will  bur  ft  a  Poyfonous  Snake, 
Now  from  the  Town,  &c. 

Ovid's  Meta-    Her  Arms  thrice  turns  about,  thrice  wets  her  crown 
morpholis.     With  gathered  dew,  thrice  yawns,  and  kneeling  down  ; 
Lib.  7.  Oh  Night/  thou  friend  to  fecrets  you  clear  fires, 

That  with  the  Moonfucceed  when  day  retires. 

Great  Hecate,  thou  know^ft  and  aid  Imparts, 


[47]         A  Letter  to  Mr.  C.  M.  121 

To  our  defign,  your  Charms  and  Magick  Arts  : 
And  thou,  oh  Earth,  that  to  Magicians  yields 
Thy  powerful  Jimples:  Airs,  Winds,  Mountains,  Fields, 
Soft  murmuring  Springs,  Jlill  Lakes  and  Rivers  clear. 
You  Gods  of  Woods,  you  Gods  of  night  appear  ; 
By  you  at  will,  I  make  fwift  Streams  retire. 
To  their  firft  Fountain,  while  their  Banks  admire. 
Seas  tofs  andfmooth  ;  clear  Clouds  with  Clouds  deform. 
Storms  turn  to  Calms,  and  make  a  Calm  a  Storm. 
With  Spells  and  Charms,  I  break  the  Vipers  Jaws, 
Cleave  folid  Rocks,  Oaks  from  their  fifures  draw  ; 
Whole  Woods  remove,  the  Airy  Mountains  pake  ; 
Earth  forced  to  groan,  and  Ghofts  from  Graves  awake. 
— her  Journey  takes. 

Lib.  14.  To  Rhegium  oppofte  to  Zanle's /-or^. 

And  treads  the  troubled  Waves,  that  loudly  roar; 
Running  with  unwet  Feet  on  that  profound. 
As  ifSV  had  trod  upon  the  folid  ground. 
[47]   This  with  portentous  poyfon  fl;e  pollutes, 

Befprinkled  with  the  juice  of  wicked  roots. 
In  words  dark,  and  perplext  nine  times  thrice, 
Inchantments  mutters  with  her  wicked  voice,  i^c. 

Thefe  Fables  of  the  Heathens  (tho'  in  them- 
felves  of  no  more  vaUdity  than  the  idle  Tales  of 
an  Indian,  or  the  Difcourfes  of  a  known  Roman- 
cer) are  become  the  School-learning,  not  to  fay 
the  Faith  of  Chriftians,  and  are  the  Scriptures 
brought  (inftead  of  that  moft  fure  Word)  if  not 
to  prove  Dodtrine,  yet  as  illuftrations  thereof. 
Cafes  of  Confcience  concerning  Witch  pag.  25. 
Remarkable  Providences  pag.   250.      (This   per- 


122  A  Letter  to  Mr,  C.  M.  [47] 

haps  might  be  the  caufe  that  in  England  2l  people 
otherways  fober  and  ReHgious)  have  for  fome  Ages 
(in  a  manner  wholly)  refufed  admitting  thofe  fo 
educated  to  the  work  of  the  Miniftry.  Such 
education  and  practice,  have  fo  far  prevailed  that 
it  has  been  a  means  of  corrupting  the  Chriftian 
world,  almoft  to  that  degree  as  to  be  ungainfay- 
able ;  for  tho'  there  is  Reafon  to  hope  that  thefe 
Diabolical  principles  have  not  fo  prevail'd  (with 
multitudes  of  Chriflians)  as  that  they  afcribe  to  a 
Witch  and  a  Devil  the  Attributes  peculiar  to  the 
Almighty ;  yet  how  few  are  willing  to  be  found 
oppofing  fuch  a  torrent,  as  knowing  that  in  fo 
doing  they  fhall  be  fure  to  meet  with  oppolition 
to  the  utmofl,  from  the  many,  both  of  Magif- 
trates,  Miniflers  and  People ;  and  the  name  of 
Sadducee,  Atheiji,  and  perhaps  Witch  too  caft 
upon  them  moft  liberally,  by  men  of  the  higheft 
profeffion  in  Godlinefs.  And  if  not  fo  learned 
as  fome  of  themfelves,  then  accounted  only  fit  to 
be  trampled  on,  and  their  Arguments  (tho  both 
Rational  and  Scriptural)  as  fit  only  for  contempt. 
But  tho  this  be  the  deplorable  Dilemma ;  yet 
fome  have  dared  from  time  to  time  (for  the  glory 
of  God,  and  the  good  and  fafety  of  Mens  lives, 
^f.)  to  run  all  thefe  Rifques.  And  that  God 
who  has  faid.  My  glory  I  will  not  give  to  another, 
is  able  to  protect  thofe  that  are  found  doing  their 
duty  herein  againft  all  oppofers ;  and  however 
other  ways  contemptible  can  make  them  ufeful 
in  his  own  hand,  who  has  fometimes  chofen  the 


[48]  A  Letter  to  Mr,  C.  M.  123 

weakeft  Inftruments,  that  his  power  may  be  the 
more  Illuftrious. 

And  now.  Reverend  Sir,  if  you  are  confcious  to 
y  ourfelf,  that  you  have  in  your  principles,  or  praBi- 
ces  been  abetting  tofuch  grand  Errors,  I  cannot  fee 
how  it  can  confifl  with  Jincerity  to  be  fo  convinced  in 
matters  fo  nearly  relating  to  the  glory  of  God,  and 
lives  of  Innocents ;  and  at  the  fatne  time  fo  much  to 
fear  difparagement  among  Men,  as  to  JUfle  Con- 
fcience,  and  dijfemble  an  approving  of  former  fenti- 
ments ;  you  know  that  word,  he  that  honoureth  me 
I  will  honour,  and  he  that  defpifeth  me  Ihall  be 
lightly  efteemed.  But  if  you  think  that  in  thefe 
matters  you  have  done  your  duty,  and  taught  people 
theirs  ;  and  that  the  DoBrines  cited  from  the  men- 
tioned [48]  Book  are  ungainfayable :  I  Jhall  con- 
clude in  almofl  his  words.  He  that  teaches  fuck  Doc- 
trine, if  through  Ignorance  he  believes  not  what  he 
faith,  may  be  a  Chrifian  :  But  if  he  believes  them,  he 
is  in  the  broad  path  to  Ueathentfm,  Devilifm,  Popery 
or  Atheifm.  It  is  afolemn  caution.  Gal.  i.  8.  But 
tho  we  or  an  Angel  from  Heaven  preach  any 
other  Gofpel  unto  you  than  that  which  we  have 
preached  unto  you,  let  him  be  accurfed.  /  hope 
you  will  not  mifconflrue  my  Intentions  herein,  who 
am,  Reverend  Sir,  Tours  to  command,  in  what  I 
may,  R.  C. 


V 


124-         A  Letter  to  the  Minijlers,        [4.8] 

To  the  Minifters  in  and  near  Bojion^  J^^- 

uary  12,   1696. 

f^  HRISTIANITY  had  been  but  a  jhort  time 
\^  in  the  World,  when  there  was  raifed  againji 
it,  not  only  open  profeji  Enefnies ;  but  fecret  and 
imbred  underminers,  who  fought  thereby  to  effeB 
that  which  open  force  had  been  so  often  bajped  in. 

And  notwithflanding  that  primitive  purity  and 
fncerity,  which  in  some  good  meafure  was  fill  re- 
tained; yet  the  cunning  deceivers  and  Apofate  Here- 
tic ks  found  opportunity  to  beguile  the  unwary,  and 
this  in  fundamentals. 

Among  others  which  then  fprung  up,  with  but  too 
?nuch  advantage  in  the  third  Century ,  the  Mani- 
che^^  did  fpread  his  Pefiferous  fentiments,  and 
taught  the  Exifence  of  two  Bei?2gs,  or  Caufes  of  all 
things,  viz.  a  good  and  a  bad :  but  thefe  were  foon 
flenced  by  the  more  Orthodox  DoBors,  and  Anathe- 
matized by  General  Councels.  And  at  this  day  the 
American  Indians,  another  fort  o/' Maniche,  enter- 
taining [thus  far)  the  fame  belief,  hold  it  their  pru- 
dence and  interef  to  pleafe  that  evil  Being,  as  well 
by  perpetrating  other  Murders,  as  by  their  Bloody 
Sacrifices,  that  fo  he  may  not  harm  them.  The  Iron 
teeth  of  time  have  now  almoft  devoured  the  name  of 

'"^  ASeftofPhilofopherswho  took  Arabia,    Egypt   and    Africa.      He 

their  Name  from  a  Perfon  named  taught  that  Light  was  the  Origin  of 

Manichaus,  or  Manes.    Manes  flou-  all  Good,  and  that  in  Darknefs  ori- 

rifhedabout  A.D.  277,  and  hisDoc-  ginated  all  Evil.     Maniche  is    not 

rine  or  Philofophy  fpread  chiefly  in  unlike  God  among  the  Indians. 


[4.9]         A  Letter  to  the  Mintjlers,        125 

the  former,  and  as  to  the  latter,  it  is  to  he  hoped  that 
as  ChrijUanity  prevails  among  them,  they  will  abhor 
fuch  abominable  belief f") 

And  as  thofe  primitive  times,  were  not  priviledged 
againft  the  fpreading  of  dangerous  Herefe,  fo  nei-^ 
ther  can  any  now  pretend  to  any  fuch  Immunity,  thd 
profejjing  the  enjoyment  of  a  primitive  purity. 

Might  a  Judgment   be  made  from  the  Books  of 
the  fnodern  learned  Divines,  or  from  the  praBice  of 
Courts,  or  from  the  Faith  of  many,  who  call  the7n- 
f elves  Chriftians,  it  might  be  modejily,  thd  fadly  con- 
cluded, that  the  DoBrine  of  the  Maniche,  at  leaf 
great  part  of  it,  is  fo  far  from  being  forgotten  that 
'tis  almoft  every  where  prof  eft.      We  in  thefe  ends  of 
the  Earth  need  not  feek  far  for  Inftances,  in  each  , 
refpeB  to  demonftrate  this'.      The  Books  here  Pri?ited,  \ 
and  recommended  not  only  by  the  refpeBive  Authors,  i 
but  by  many  of  their  Brethren,  do  fet  forth  that  the  s 
Devil  infliBs  Plagues,^  Wars,^  Difeafes,^  Tempeftsd 
and   can   render  the  moft  folid  things   invifible,^ 
and  can  do  things  above  and   againft  the  courfe 
of  Nature,  and  all  natural  caufes. 

[49]  Are  thefe  the  Expreffions  of  Orthodox  be-  ■ 
lievers  ?  or  are  they  not  rather  exprejpons  becoming  \ 
a  Maniche,  or  a  Heathen,  as  agreeing  far  better  \ 

(-•!)  Had  the  Author  lived  to  this  "  It  might  do   for  White  ^  People, 

Time  he  would  have  feen  that  his  but  it  did  not  suit  Indians." 
Hopes  were  much  further  from  be-  =>  Wonders  of  the  Invifible  World 

ing  realized  than  he  could  have  anti-  p.      17.18.      '' P-    '8.     '' Caics  ot 

cipated.     Many  Years  ago,  a  noted  Confcience,  p.   63.     d  Remarkable 

Indian  Chief,  on  being  importuned  providences,    p.    124.      '-Wonders 

refpeaingChriftianity,  and  urged  to  of  the  Invihble  World,  p.  141-— 

adopt  it  in  his  Tribe,  replied  that  Notes  in  the  Original. 


126        J1  luetter  to  the  Minijiers.        [49] 

with  thefe  than  with  the  facred  Oracles  our  only 
rule ;  the  whole  current  whereof  is  fo  T)iametric ally 
oppojite  thereto,  that  it  were  almoji  endlefs  to  mention 
all  the  Divine  cautions  againji  fuch  abominable  be- 
lief; he  that  runs  may  read,  Pfal.  lxii„  11,  and 
cxxxvi.  4.  Lam.  iii.  37.  Amos  iii.  6.  Jer.  iv. 
22.  Pfal.  Ixxviii.  26,  and  clxviii.  6.  8.  Job 
xxxviii.  22.  to  the  34  v. 

T^  he fe  places  with  a  multitude  more,  do  abundantly 
tejlife  that  the  Affertors  of  fuch  power  to  be  in  the 
evil  Being,  do  fpeak  in  a  dialect  different  from  the 
fcriptures,  (laying  a  frm  foundation  for  the  Indians 
adorations,  which  agrees  well  with  what  A.  Rofs^^ 
fets  forth,  in  his  Miftag.  Poetic,  p.  116,  that  their 
ancients  did  Ufurp  the  furies  and  their  God  Aver- 
inci,  that  they  might  forbear  to  hurt  them.) 

And  have  not  the  Courts  in  fome  parts  of  the 
World  by  their  praBice  teflified  their  concurrence 
with  fuch  belief,  profecuting  to  Death  many  people 
upon  that  notion,  of  their  improving  fuch  power  of 
the  Evil  one,  to  the  raifng  of  Storms ;  affiBing  and 

■^0  Alexander  Rofs,  a  Scotchman,  icus,  or  the  Mufe's  Interpreter  :  Ex- 

a  very  voluminous  Author,   though  plaining   the  Hiftorical   Myftteries, 

a  Prelate  and  poflefled  of  much  and  and   Myftical  Hiftories  of  the  An- 

varied  Learning,  is  meagrely  noticed  cient  Greek  and  Latin  Poets,"  &c. 

in  Biographical  Works.     He   con-  a   fifth  Edition  of  which  was  pub- 

tinued  Sir  Walter  Ralegh's  Hiftory  lilhed    in    1672.      Notwithftanding 

of  the  World,  in  a  large  folio  ;  wrote  his  immenfe  literary  Labours,  he  is 

"  a  View  of  the  Religions   of  the  unknown  to  Thoufands  of  the  pre- 

World  ;"    "  Virgilii    Evangelifantis  fent  Day,  beyond  thofe  anachronif- 

Chriftiados,   Librii  xiii,"  &c.  little  mical  Lines  in  Hudibras  : 

known.    The  Work  referred  toin  the  .<  There  was  an  ancient  fage  Philofopher 
Text  is  entitled  "  MyftagOgUS  Poet-  That  had  read  Alexander  Rofs  over." 


[4-9]         ^  Letter  to  the  Minijiers,        127 

killing  of  others,  tho  at  great  diftance  from  them ; 
doing  things  in  their  own  perfons  above  humane 
Jirength,  deftroying  of  Cattle,  flying  in  the  Air, 
turning  themfehes  into  Cats  or  Dogs,  &c.  Which 
by  the  way  muft  needs  imply  forne  thing  of  goodnefs 
to  be  in  that  evil  Being,  who,  tho  he  has  fuch  power, 
would  not  exert  it,  were  it  not  for  this  people,  or  elje 
that  they  can  fome  way  add  to  this  mighty  power f"- 

And  are  the  people  a  whit  behind  in  their  belief s^  ? 
is  there  any  thing  [abovementioned,)  their flrong  Faith 
looks  upon  to  be  too  hard  for  this  evil  Being  to  effeB  ? 

Here  it  will  be  anfwered,  God  permits  it.  Which 
anfwer  is  fo  far  an  owning  the  DoBrine,  that  the 
Devil  has  in  his  nature  a  power  to  do  all  thefe 
things,  and  can  exert  this  power,  except  when  he  is 
refrained,  which  is  in  effeB  to  fay  that  God  has 
made  Nature  to  fight  againft  itfelf  That  he  has 
made  a  Creature,  who  has  it  in  the  power  of  his 
Nature  to  overthrow  Nature,  and  to  aB  above  and 

71  Some  Perfon  once  put  into  the  work,  which  commonly  are  called 
Hands  of  the  fmce  famous  James  Witches;  I  fay  again,  that  he  who 
Howell  a  Manufcript,  attempting  denies  there  are  fuch  Spirits,_  Ihews 
to  difprove  the  Exiftence  of  Witch-  that  he  himfelf  hath  a  Spirit  ot 
es  In  writing  to  his  Friend,  Sir  Contradiftion  in  him,  oppofing  the 
Edward  Spencer,  foon  after,  Howell  current  and  confentient  Opmion  of 
faid  •  "  I  will  not  fay  that  this  Gen-  all  Antiquity."  James  wrote  this 
tleman  is  fo  perverfe;  but  to  deny  Nonfenfe  in  1647.  Moft  certainly 
there  are  any  Witches,  to  deny  that  if  our  Affairs  are  to  be  meafured 
there  are  not  ill  Spirits  which  fe-  by  the  Laws  and  Ufages  of  Anti- 
duce,  tamper  and  converfe  in  divers  quity,  all  Advancement  in  Know- 
Shapes  with  human  Creatures,  and  ledge  is  a  Crime;  and  inftcad  of 
impel  them  to  Adions  of  Mahce,  I  being  tolerated,  fliould  be  prevented 
fay  that  he  who  denies  there  are  by  the  fame  fanguinary  Laws  then 
fuch  bufy  Spirits,  and  fuch  poor  in  ufe.  Fortunately  fome  Improve- 
paflive  Creatures  upon  whom  they  ment  is  difcerniblc.  ^ 


128         A  Letter  to  the  Minijlers,        [50] 

againji  it.  Which  he  that  can  believe  may  as  well 
believe  the  greatejl  contradiBion.  That  Being  which 
can  do  this  in  the  f?nallejl  thing,  can  do  it  in  the 
greateji.  If  Mofes  with  a  bare  perfnij/ion  might 
Jlr etch  forth  his  Rod,  yet  he  was  not  able  to  bring 
Plagues  upon  the  Egyptians,  or  to  divide  the  Waters, 
without  a  Co?nmiJfon  fro?n  the  mofl  high ;  fo  neither 
can  that  evil  Being  perform  any  of  this  without  a 
Commijfion  from  the  fame  power.  The  Scripture 
recites  more  Miracles  wrought  by  Men  than  by 
Angels  good  and  bad;  Tho  this  DoBrine  be  fo  dif- 
honourable  to  the  only  Almighty  Being,  as  to  afcribe 
fuch  Attributes  to  the  Evil  one,  as  are  the  Incom- 
municahle  prerogative  of  him,  who  is  the  alone 
Sovereign  Being;  yet  here  is  not  all:  But  as  he 
that  Steers  by  a  falfe  Compafs,  the  further  he  Sails 
the  more  he  is  out  of  his  way ;  fo  though  there  is  in 
fome  things  a  variation  [^o^from,  there  is  in  others 
a  further  progrejfion  in,  or  building  upon  the  faid 
DoBrine  of  the  Maniche. 

Men  in  this  Age  are  not  content  barely  to  believe 
fuch  an  exorbitant  power  to  be  in  the  nature  of  this 
evil  Being ;  but  have  imagined  that  he  prevails  with 
many  to  fign  a  Book,  or  make  a  contraB  with  him, 
whereby  they  are  inabled  to  perform  all  the  things 
abovementioned.  Another  Account  is  given  hereof, 
viz.  that  by  vertue  of  fuch  a  Covenant  they  attain 
power  to  Commiffionate  him.  And  though  the  two 
parties  are  not  agreed  which  to  put  it  upon,  whether 
the  Devil  impowers  the  Witch,  or  the  Witch 
commifjionate  him;  yet   both  parties  are  agreed  in 


[50]        A  Letter  to  the  Minijlers.        129 

this.  That  one  way  or  other  the  mi/chief  is  effeBed, 
andfo  the  Criminal  becomes  culpable  of  Death.  In 
the  fear ch  after  fuch  a  fort  of  Criminals,  how  many 
Countries  have  fallen  into  fuch  Convulfions.  That 
the  Devafations  made  by  a  Conquering  Enemy,  nor 
the  Plague  itfelf  has  not  been  fo  formidable. 

That  not  only  good  perfons  have  thus  been 
blemifh'd  in  their  Reputations,  but  much  inno- 
cent Blood  hath  been  flied,  is  teftified  even  by 
thofe  very  Books,  Cafes  of  Confcience,  p.  33. 
Remarkable    provid.   p.    179.      Memor.    provid. 

/.  28.  ,       1        -  ■ 

And  (to  add)  v^hat  lefs  can  be  expected,  v^hen  ^ 
Men   having   taken  up  fuch  a  belief,  of  a  cove-  \ 
nanting,  affliaing  and  killing  Witch  ;  and  com-  \ 
paring  it  with   the  Scripture,  finding  no  footfteps 
therein  of  fuch  a  fort  of  Witch,  have  thereupon 
defperately  concluded ;  that  tho  the  Scripture  is 
full  in  it,  that  a  Witch  fhould  not  live ;  yet  that 
it  has  not  at  all  defcribed  the  crime,  nor  means 
whereby  the  culpable  might  be  detefted. 

And  hence  they  are  fallen  io  far  as  to  reckon 
it  necelTary  to  make  ufe  of  thofe  Diabolical  and 
Bloody  ways,  always  heretofore  practiced  for  their 
Difcovery.  As  finding  that  the  Rules  given  to 
deted:  other  crimes,  are  wholly  ufelefs  for  the 
Difcovery  of  fuch. 

This  is  that  which  has  produced  that  deluge  of 
Blood  mentioned,  and  muft  certainly  do  fo  again, 
the  fame  belief  remaining. 

And  who  can  wonder,  if  Chriflians  that  are  fo 


130        A  Letter  to  the  Minijiers.        [51] 

eafily  prevailed  with  to  lay  afide  their  Swords  as 
ufelefs,  and  (o  have  loft  their  Strength  (if  with 
Samfon)  they  are  led  blindfold  into  an  Idol  Tem- 
ple, to  make  fport  for  Enemies  and  Infidels,  and 
to  do  abominable  actions,  not  only  not  Chriftian, 
but  againft  even  the  light  of  Nature  and  Reafon. 
And  now  Reverend  Fathers,  you  who  are  ap- 
pointed as  Guides  to  the  People,  and  whofe  Lips 
fhould  preferve  Knowledge  ;  who  are  fet  as  Shep- 
herds, and  as  Watchmen,  this  matter  appertains 
to.  you.  I  did  write  to  you  formerly  upon  this 
head,  and  acquainted  you  with  my  Sentiments, 
requefting  that,  if  I  erred,  you  would  be  pleafed 
to  fhew  it  me  by  Scripture ;  but  from  your 
filence,  I  gather  that  you  approve  thereof.  For 
I  may  reafonably  prefume,  that  you  would  have 
feen  it  your  duty  to  have  in[5i]formed  me  better, 
if  you  had  been  fenfible  of  any  Error.  But  if  in 
this  matter  you  have  acquitted  yourfelves,  becom- 
ing the  Titles  you  are  dignified  with,  you  have 
caufe  of  rejoicing  in  the  midft  of  the  calamities 
that  afflidl  a  finning  world. 

Particularly,  if  you  have  taught  the  People  to 

fear  God,   and  truft   in  him,  and  not   to  fear  a 

Witch  or  a  Devil.     That  the  Devil  has  no  power 

to  afflid;  any  with  Difeafes,  or  lofs  of  Cattle,  &c. 

:   without  a  Commiffion  from  the  moft  high.     That 

\   he  is  fo  filled  with  malice,  that  whatever  Com- 

\   miflion  he  may  have  againft  any,  he  will  not  fail 

to  execute  it.     That  no  mortal  ever  was,  or  can 

be  able  to  Commifiionate  him,  or  to  lengthen  his 


[51]        A  Letter  to  the  Minijlers,         131 

Chain  in  the  leaft,  and  that  he  who  can  Commif- 
fionate  him  is  God  ;    and   that  the   Scriptures  of 
truth  not  only  affign  the  punifliment  of  a  Witch ; 
but  give  fufficient  Rules  to  deted:  them  by,  and 
that    (according    to    Mr.    Gauls  fourth   head,)  a 
Witch  is   one   that   hates  and  oppofes  the  word, 
work,  and  worfhip  of  God,  and  feeks  by  a  fign  to 
feduce    therefrom.     That    they   who    are    guilty 
according  to  that  head,  are   guilty  of  Witchcraft, 
and  by  the  Law  given  by  Mofes,  were  to  be  put 
to  Death.     If  you  have  taught  the   People  the 
neceffity  of  Charity,  and  the  evil  of  entertaining 
fo  much  as  a  jealoufie   againft   their  Neighbours 
for  fuch  crimes  upon  the  Devils  fuggeftions  to  a 
perfon   pretending    to  a   Spedral  (or   Diabolical) 
fight ;   who  utter  their  Oracles  from  Malice,  fren- 
fie,  or  a  Satanical  Delufion ;   that  to  be  inquifitive 
ofVuch,  whofe  Speftres  they  fee,  or  who  it  is  that 
afBidis  ?     In  order  to  put  the  accufed  perfons  life 
in   queftion,   is   a  wickednefs   beyond  what  Saul    \ 
was  guilty  of  in  going  to  the  Witch.     That  to 
confult  with   the   dead,  by  the   help   of  fuch   as     j 
pretend  to  this  Spediral  fight,  and  fo  to  get  Infor- 
mation againft  the  life  of  any  perfon,  is  the  worft 
fort    of  Necromancy.     That    the   pretending   to 
drive  away  Spedres,  /.  e.   Devils,  with  the  hand, 
or  by  ftriking  thefe  to  wound  a  perfon  at  a  dif- 
tance,  cannot  be  without  Witchcraft,  as  pretending 
to    affign   in   order    to   deceive    in    matters   of  fo 
high  a  Nature.     That  'tis  Ridiculous  to  think  by 
making  laws  againft  feeding,  imploying,  or  re- 

W 


132         A  Lietter  to  the  Minijiers,        [52] 

warding  of  evil  Spirits,  thereby  to  get  rid  of 
them.  That  their  natures  require  not  fucking  to 
fupport  it. 

That  it  is  a  horrid  Injury  and  Barbarity  to 
fearch  thofe  parts,  which  even  Nature  itfelf 
commands  the  concealing  of,  to  find  fome  Ex- 
crefcence  to  be  called  a  Tet  for  thofe  to  fuck  ; 
which  yet  is  faid  fometimes  to  appear  as  a  Flea- 
bite.  Finally  if  you  have  taught  the  People 
what  to  believe  and  practice,  as  to  the  probation 
of  the  Accufed,  by  their  faying,  or  not  faying  the 
Lord's  Prayer ;  and  as  to  praying  that  the  Af- 
flicted may  be  able  to  accufe ;  And  have  not 
fhunned  in  thefe  matters  to  declare  the  whole 
mind  of  God ;  you  have  then  well  acquitted 
yourfelves  (in  time  of  General  Defedlion)  as 
faithful  Watchmen.  But  if  inftead  [52]  of  this, 
you  have  fome  by  word  and  writing  propagated ; 
others  recommended  fuch  writings,  and  abetted 
the  falfe  Notions,  which  are  fo  prevalent  in  this 
Apoftate  Age,  it  is  high  time  to  confider  it.  If 
when  Authority  found  themfelves  almoft  non- 
pluft  in  fuch  profecutions,  and  fent  to  you  for 
your  Advice  what  they  ought  to  do. 
Cafes  of  confcience,     ^j^^j   y^^   hdiWQ  theu   thanked  them 

for  what  they  had  already  done  (and 

thereby  encouraged  them  to  proceed 

in  thofe  very  by  Paths  already  fallen   into)   it  fo 

much   the    [more]    nearly   concerns   you,    Ezek. 

xxxiii.  2,  to  8. 

To  conclude,  this  whole   People   are  invited 


[52]        A  Letter  to  the  Minijiers,         133 

and  commanded  to  humble  their  Souls  before 
God,  as  for  other  caufes,  fo  for  the 
vid.  The  Procia-  Errors  that  may  have  been  fallen  into 
motion  for  a  Faji,  iu  thcfe  profccutions  on  either  hand, 
tobcthc  i^inji.as  and  to  pray  that  God  would  teach 
fct  forth  by  Autho-  US  what  wc  know  not,  and  help  us 
rity.  wherein    we   have  done   amifs,  that 

we  may  do  fo  no  more. 
This  more  immediately  concerns  yourfelves, 
for  'tis  not  fuppofed  to  be  intended,  that  God 
would  fhew  us  thefe  things  by  Infpiration.  But 
that  fuch  who  are  called  to  it,  fhould  fhew  the 
mind  of  God  in  thefe  things  on  both  hands ; 
/'.  e.  whether  there  has  been  any  Error  in  Excefs 
or  Deficiency,  or  neither  in  the  one  nor  the  other. 
And  if  you  do  not  thus  far  ferve  the  publick  you 
need  not  complain  of  great  Sufferings  and  un- 
righteous Difcouragements  ;  if  Peo- 
vid.  The  Dcciara-  plc  do  uot  applaude  your  conduct,  as 
tion,  as  Jra-wn  by  jou  might  othcrways  have  expected. 
the  Deputies  -with  But  if  you  altogether  hold  your  peace 
the  Ajfiftance  f  the  at  fuch  2l  tlmc  as  this  is ;  your  filence 
Minifters;  but  re-  at  Icaft  fccmlngly  will  fpeak  this 
cei-v'd  a  Noncon-  Lauguagc ;  that  you  are  not  con- 
currence.  cemcd  tho'  Mcu  afcribc  the  power 

and  providence  of  the  Almighty  to 
the  worft  of  his  Creatures.  That  if  other  Ages 
or  Countries  improve  the  Dodlrines  and  Exam- 
ples given  them,  either  to  the  taking  away  of  the 
Life  or  Reputations  of  Innocents  you  are  well 
fatisfied.     Which  that   there  may  be   no  fhadow 


134  A  Letter  to  Mr,  B.  W.         [53] 

of  a  Reafon  to  believe  but  that  your  conduct 
herein  may  remove  all  fuch  Jealouiies ;  and  that 
God  be  w^ith  you  in  declaring  his  whole  mind  to 
the  People,  is  the  earneft  defire  and  prayer  of. 
Reverend  Sirs, 

Yours  to  my  utmoft, 

R.  C. 

Mr.  Benjamin  WadfworthJ'^ 
Reverend  Sir, 

AFTER  that  dreadful  and  fevere  Perfecution 
of  fuch  a  Multitude  of  People,  under  the 
notion  of  Witches,  which  in  the  day  thereof,  was 
the  foreft  tryal  and  affliction  that  ever  befel  this 
Country.  And  after  [53]  many  of  the  principal 
Ad:ors  had  declared  their  fears  and  jealoufies,  that 
they  had  greatly  erred  in  thofe  Profecutions. 
And  after  a  Solemn  day  of  Failing  had  been 
kept,  with  Prayers  that  God  would  fliew  us  what 

73  Mr.  Wadfworth  was  Minifter  See  N.  E.  Hit.  and  Gen.  Reg.  for 

of  the  Firft  Church  in  Bofton  from  1853,  p.    221,  where  the  Caufe  of 

1696    to   1725,   when   he   became  the  Error  is  explained.     There  has 

Prcfidentof  Harvard  College.    He  been  a   feeble  i^ttempt  to  maintain 

was  Son   of  Capt.    Samuel   Wadf-  the  old  Date,  becaufe  it  happened 

worth  of  Milton,  who   fell  in  the  ignorandy  to  be  placed  upon  a  new 

bloody  Fight  at  Sudbury,  April  the  Monument  which  replaced  the  old 

2 1  ft,  1676.     And   here  it  may  be  One   in  1852.     This  Attempt  has 

noted    that    PreJident    Wadfworth,  been  admitted  into  the  Regifter  for 

praifeworthily  and    in    filial  Duty,  1866,  page  135-141,  as  unaccount- 

erefled  a  Monument  to  his  father's  ably    as   the    Date    on    the     New 

Memory,  at  Sudbury,  on  the  Site  Monument. 

of  the  fierce  Gonflift,  in  which  he  Prefident  Wadfworth,   though  a 

ended  his  Life;  but  from  fome  Caufe  BeHever  in  Witchcraft,  did  not  en- 

eafily  explained,   fixed   the  Date  of  courage  the  Proceedings  and  Profe- 

his  father's  Death   on  April    i8th;  cutions. 


[53] 


A  Letter  to  Mr.  B.  W.  135 


we  knew  not  ;  viz.  what  errors  might  therein 
have  been  fallen  into,  &c.  And  after  moft  Peo- 
ple were  convinc'd  of  the  Evil  of  fome,  if  not 
of  moll  of  thofe  Actions.  At  fuch  a  time  as  this 
it  might  have  been  juftly  expedted  that  the  Min- 
ifters  would  make  it  their  work  to  Explain  the 
Scriptures  to  the  People";  and  from  thence  to 
have  (hown  them,  the  evil  and  danger  of  thofe 
falfe  Notions,  which  not  only  gave  fome  occalion ; 
but  in  a  blind  Zeal  hurried  them  into  thofe  un- 
warrantable practices,  fo  to  prevent  a  falling  into  ' 
the  like  for  the  future. 

But  inftead  of  this,  for  a  Minifter  of  the  Gof- 
pel  (Paftor  of  the  old  Meeting  74)  to  abet  fuch 
Notions ;  and  to  ftir  up  the  Magiftrates  to  fuch 
Profecutions,  and  this  without  any  cautions  given, 
is  what  is  truly  amazing,  and  of  moil  dangerous 
confequence. 

It  is  a  truth.  Witchcraft  is,  in  the  Text  then 
infifted  on,  reckon'd  up  as  a  manifefl  work  of  the 
Flefh.  Viz.  Gal.  v.  19.  But  it  is  as  true,  that  in 
recounting  thofe  other  Works  (which  are  indeed 
Manifefl  Flefhly  Works)  the  Magiftrate  was  not 
flirred  up  againfl  thofe  others ;  but  as  if  the  reft 
were  either  not  to  be  taken  notice  of  by  him,  or 
as  if  all  Zeal  againft  Murder,  Adulteries,  &c.  was 
fwallowed  up,  and  over- fliado wed  by  this  againft 
Witchcraft. 

74  The  Author  undoubtedly  re-  be  fuppofed    to   mean   that  of  the 

fers   to  Dr.  Mather  the   Younger,  oldefl;   Church;    but   of  that,    Mr. 

though  his  Meaning  is   left   rather  Wadfworth  himfelf  was  the  Min- 

obfcure.     The  Old  Meeting  may  ifter. 


136         A  Letter  to  Mr,  B.  W.  [54] 

The  defcription  that  was  then  given,  was  that 
they  were  fuch  as  made  a  Covenant  with  the 
Devil,  and  fold  themfelves  to  the  evil  Angels.  It 
feems  faulty,  that  when  fuch  Minifter  is  inquired 
of,  and  requefted  to  give  the  Reafons,  or  Grounds 
in  Scripture  of  fuch  Defcription ;  for  fuch  Min- 
ifter  to  alTert  that  it  is  the  Inquirers  work  to 
difprove  it.  And  his  faying  further,  in  anfwer 
that  there  are  many  things  true,  that  are  not 
afferted  in  Scripture ;  feems  to  fpeak  this  Lan- 
guage, viz.  that  the  Law  of  God  is  imperfect,  in 
not  defcribing  this  Crime  of  Witchcraft,  though 
it  be  therein  made  Capital. 

Thefe  perfect  Oracles  inform  us,  concerning 
Ahab^  that  he  fold  himfelf  to  work  Wickednefs ; 
which  may  fignifie  to  us,  that  great  height  of 
Wickednefs  he  had  arrived  at ;  which  yet  might 
be,  without  his  being  properly,  or  juftly  accounted 
a  Witch ;  any  more  than  thofe  that  are  faid  to 
have  made  a  Covenant  with  Death,  and  with 
Hell,  ^c.  Can  it  be  thought  that  all  thofe,  or 
fuch  as  are  there  fpoken  of,  are  Witches,  and 
ought  to  fuffer  as  Witches  .^ 

As  the  Servants  and  People  of  God,  have  made 
a  Solemn  explicit  Covenant  with  him,  'JoJIo.  xxiv. 
25.  Nehem.  ix.  38.  &c.  So  no  doubt  a  Covenant 
has  been  made  by  Heathen  Indian  Nations  to  ferve, 
and  adore  the  Devil ;  yet  even  for  this,  it  were 
very  hard  to  affix  the  Character  of  [54]  a  Witch 
upon  each  of  thofe  Heathen  that  fo  do :  And 
accordingly    to    Execute    them    as    fuch.     It    is 


[54]        ^  Letter  to  M?\  B.  W.  137 

alfo  poffible,  that  fome  that  have  been  called 
Chriftians,  have  fealed  a  Writing,  fign'd  with  their 
own  Blood,  or  otherways,  thereby  Covenanting 
to  be  the  Devil's  Servants,  &c.  but  from  far  other 
grounds,  or  inducements  than  what  fways  with 
the  Indians ;  thefe  Heathen  hoping  to  pleafe  him, 
that  fo  he  may  not  harm  them.  But  thefe  having 
been  Educated  and  Confirmed  in  the  Belief,  that 
by  vertue  of  fuch  Covenant,  they  fhall  have  a 
Knowledge  and  Power  more  than  Humane,  af- 
fifting  of  them ;  this  may  have  prevail'd  with 
fome  to  fo  horrible  a  wickednefs ;  for  none  can 
feek  Evil  for  Evils  fake ;  but  as  the  Serpent  in 
his  firfi:  tempting  Man,  made  ufe  of  the  know- 
ledge of  Good  and  Evil ;  fo  to  teach  Men  that 
fuch  efted:s  do  ufually  follow  fuch  Covenant,  is 
properly  the  work  of  the  Serpent ;  for  without 
this,  what  inducement,  or  temptation  could  they 
have  to  make  fuch  a  Covenant  ? 

Thefe  having  thus  chofen  a  falfe  God,  may  well 
be  accounted  the  worft  fort  of  Idolaters.  Yet  it 
does  not  hence  follow  that  in  a  Scripture  fenfe, 
they  are  thereby  become  Witches,  till  they  have, 
or  rather  till  they  pretend  to  have  affiftances  an- 
fwerable ;  and  do  thereby  endeavour  to  deceive 
others,  which  endeavours  to  deceive,  by  a  fign 
may  be  without  any  previous  Covenant. 

But  fuppofing  none  of  all  thofe  feveral  forts  of 
Covenants  was  intended,  it  remains  that  the  Cove- 
nant, that  was  underftood  to  be  intended,  in  that 
Difcourfe  at  Old  Meeting,  is  agreeable  to  the  late 


138  A  Letter  to  Mr,  B.  W.  [55] 

dangerous  Notion  that  has  fo  much  prevailed, 
ijiz.  That  the  Devil  appears  to  the  perfons,  that 
they  and  the  Devil  make  mutual  engagements 
each  to  other,  confirmed  by  figning  to  the  Devil's 
Book ;  and  are  from  hence  inabled,  not  only  to 
know  futurities,  and  things  done  at  diftance ;  but 
are  alfo  thereby  impowered  to  do  harm  to  the 
Neighbours,  to  raife  Storms,  and  do  things  above 
and  againft  a  courfe  of  Nature :  This  being  the 
notion  that  has  occafioned  the  fhedding  fo  much 
Blood  in  the  World,  it  may  be  thought  to  need 
explaining. 

For  as  Reafon  knows  nothing  of  an  Afflicting, 
Covenanting  Witch  ;  fo  it  feems  as  Forreign  from 
Scripture  in  general,  as  it  is  from  the  Text  then 
inlifted  on ;  which  fpeaks  of  fuch  wickedneffes 
as  are  manifeftly  the  works  of  the  flefh  :  but  fuch 
Communication  with  Spirits,  the  flefh  doth  man- 
ifeftly dread  even  as  death  itfelf.  Therefore  the 
ufual  Salvation  of  the  Holy  Angels  to  the  beft 
of  Men  was,  fear  not ;  and  experience  fhews,  that 
the  moft  wicked,  are  moft  afrighted  at  the  appre- 
henlions  of  the  appearances  of  Devils ;  therefore 
fuch  an  explicit  Covenanting  cannot  be  a  manfeft 
work  of  the  Flefh. 

\^S\  Yet  this  is  manifefl,  that  the  belief  of  the 
Witches  power  to  do  the  things  above  mentioned, 
is  an  ancient  belief  of  the  Heathen.  And  that 
from  them  it  was  received  by  the  Papifls,  as  a 
part  of  their  Faith,  who  have  fince  improved 
upon  it,  and  brought  in  the  notion  of  a  Covenant. 


[55] 


A  Letter'  to  Mr.  B.  W.  139 


But  it  feems  yet  a  further  improvement  lately- 
made  by  Proteftants,  that  fuch  Witches  can  Com- 
miffionate  Devils  to  do  thofe  mifchiefs,  thereby 
fetting  the  Witch  in  the  place  of  God  ;  for  tho 
few  of  the  Papifts  are  known  to  be  thus  abfurd ; 
yet  when  fuch  Do6trines  have  been  Preached,  and 
Printed  in  New  England^  they  have  met  with 
none  to  oppofe  ;  but  many  to  incourage  them. 75 
Other  considerable  additions  or  new  improvements 
have  been  made  here ;  as  the  art  to  knock  off 
invilible  chains  with  the  hand,  to  drive  away 
Spedlres  (/.  e.  Devils)  by  brufliing,  fpelling  words 
to  the  Afflid:ed,  &c.  What  has  followed  upon 
thefe  notions,  and  upon  fuch  improvements,  is 
needlefs  here  to  repeat,  it  were  unaccountable  to 
recount  the  effufion  of  Blood  that  has  been  hereby 
occalioned,  fuch  remaining  Scars,  and  fuch  yet 
bleeding  wounds  as  are  to  be  found ;  which  none 
can  wholly  pretend  ignorance  of. 

75  The  Defenders   of  Dr.    Ma-  Bottom    of  the   Matter,)  and    for 

the r's  TT'tf/r^^rj-,  &c.,  remark  :    "Af-  him    to   fpeak    as   he    does  of  the 

ter  that  thofe  our  Honourable  Judges  Hononrable  Pcrfons,   as  Me/i  objli- 

(fearing    leaft    wrong    Steps  might  nate  in  an  Error,  and  involved  in 

have  been  taken)  had  thus  fet  apart  the  Guilt  of  the  Blood  Jhed  by  Pa- 

a  Day  for  folemn  Humiliation  be-  gans  and  Papifts  before  them  :  what 

fore  the  Lord,   humbly   Imploring  fhall  we  think  of  it,  but  that  'tis  in- 

His   Pardon  for  what  might  have  humane,  and  fit  for  none  but  a  Ser- 

becn  done  amifs;  for  him  to  repeat  vant  of  the  worft    Mafler?     One 

that  Matter,  and  fct  it  out  with  im-  would  have  thought,  that  the  Fear 

perfeft   Relations  and   odious  Ag-  ^  Gc;^  (if  he  has  any)  fhould  have 

gravations,  thereby  intending  to  ren-  darted  that  Scripture  into  his  Mind, 

der  the  Land,  and   the  Judges  ob-  Exod.  22.  28.  Thou  fhalt  not  /peak 

noxious  (tho  all  the  Learning  that  Evil  of  the  Ruler  of  thy  People.'' — 

he  and  wifer  Men  than  he,  pretend  Anfwer  to',  a  Scandalous  Book,  &c. 

unto,  is  infufficient  to  dive  to  the  Paternity  of  Extraft  unmillakablc. 

X 


140  Reafon  of  Withdrawing.         [55] 

And  if  Blood  fhall  be  required  of  that  Watch- 
man that  feeth  the  Sword  a  coming,  and  gives 
not  the  needful  warning ;  how  much  more  of 
fuch  as  join  with  the  Enemy,  to  bring  in  the 
Sword  to  deftroy  them,  over  whom  he  was  placed 
a  Watchman. 

And  if  the  law  of  God  be  perfect,  and  exceed- 
ing broad,  as  being  given  forth  by  the  Omnicient 
Law-giver  ;  it  is  exceeding  high  prefumption  and 
arrogance,  and  highly  deftrudiive  to  the  lives  of 
Innocents,  for  any  to  pretend  to  give  another,  and 
a  pretended  better  defcription  of  a  crime  made 
thereby  Capital,  with  new  rules  to  try  fuch  of- 
fenders by. 

Reverend  Sir,  the  matter  being  of  fuch  high  con- 
cern requires  [and  it  is  again  prayed)  that  you  would 
be  pleafed  to  confder,  and  give  the  grounds  from 
Scripture,  or  Reafon  of  fuch  Definition,  or  elfe  that 
you  would  explode  it,  as  inconffient  with  both. 
From,  Reverend  Sir,  Tours  to  my  utmofl. 

R.  C. 


PART    III. 

An  Account  of  the  Differences  in  SALEM 

Village. 

THE  Reafons  why  we  withdraw  from  Com- 
munion with  the  Church  of  Saletn  Village, 
both  as  to  hearing  the  word  Preached,  and  from 


[56]         Reafon  of  Withdrawing,  141 

partaking  with  them  at  the  Lord's  Table,  are  as 
followeth. 

Why  we  attend  not  on  pubUck  Prayer,  and 
preaching  the  word,  there  are, 

I  56]  /.  The  DiJiraBing,  and  Dijiurbing  tumults, 
and  noifes  made  by  the  perfons  under  Diabolical 
Power  and  delujions :  preventing  fomefimes  our 
hearing,  under Jianding,  and  profiting  by  the  word 
preached.  We  having  after  many  Trials,  and  Ex- 
periences found  no  redrefo  in  this  ?natter,  accountea 
ourfolves  u?ider  a  necejjity  to  go  where  we  might  hear 
the  word  in  quiet. 

2.  The  apprehenfion  of  danger  of  ourf elves,  being 
accufed  as  the  Devil's  Inflruinents,  to  ofliB  the  per- 
fons complaining,  we  feeing  thofe  that  we  have  reafon 

to  efieem  better  than  ourf elves  thus  accufed,  blemifhed, 
and  of  their  lives  bereaved:  for  feeing  this,  thought 
it  our  prudence  to  withdraw. 

3.  We  found  fo  frequent  and  poftive  preaching 
up  fome  Principles  and  PraBices  by  Mr.  Parris,^^ 
referring  to  the  dark  and  difnal  myflery  of  Iniquity 
working  among  us,  was  not  profitable,  but  offenfive. 

4.  Neither  could  we  in  Confidence  join  with  Mr. 
Parris,  in  many  of  the  Requefis  which  he  7nade  in 
Prayer,  referring  to  the  trouble  then  among  us  and 
upon  us ;  therefore  thought  it  our  mofi  fafe  and 
peaceable  way  to  withdraw. 

^'' A  brief  Article  on  this  deluded  be  found  further  noticed  in  thefe 
Man  will  be  feen  in  Dr.  Allen's  Pages.  He  polTefled  confidcrable 
Amer.  Biog.  Di^ionary,     He  will     Ability,  but  was  very  weak  minded. 


142        Reafons  for  Withdrawing.        [56] 

T^he  Reafons  why  we  hold  not  Communion  with  them 
at  the  Lord's  Table,  are  becaufe  we  find  ourf elves 
jufily   aggrieved,    and  offended  with   the  Offcer, 
who  does  adminifier,for  the  Reafons  following. 

1.  From  his  declared  and  publijhed  Principles,  re- 
ferring to  our  moleflations  from  the  Invifible  World: 

Differing  from  the  Opinion  of  the  generality  of  the 
Orthodox  Miniflers  of  the  Country. 

2.  His  eafie  and  firong  Faith  and  Belief  of  the 
before-mentioned  Accufations,  made  by  thofe  called 
the  AffliBed. 

3.  His  laying  afde  that  grace  (which  above  all 
we  are  to  put  on,)  viz.  Charity  towards  his  Neigh- 
bours, and  efpecially  thofe  of  his  Church,  when  there 
is  no  apparent  reafon,  but  for  the  contrary. 

4.  His  approving  and  practicing  unwarrantable 
and  ungrounded  methods,  for  difcovering  what  he  was 
defrous  to  know,  referring  to  the  bewitched,  or  pof- 

feffed  perfons,  as  in  bringing  fome  to  others,  and  by 
them  pretending  to  inform  himfelf  and  others,  who 
were  the  Devil's  infiruments  to  affiB  the  fick  and 
maifned. 

5.  His  unfafe  unaccountable  Oath,  given  by  him 
againfi  fundry  of  the  accufed. 

6.  His  not  rendering  to  the  World  fo  fair  (if  fo 
true)  account  of  what  he  wrote  on  Fxamination  of 
the  affiBed. 

7.  Sundry  unfafe  (if  found  points  of  DoBrine  de- 
livered in  his  Preaching)  which  we  find  not  war- 
rantable (if  Chrifiian.) 


\^S7^     Mr.FsLvns's  y4cknow/edgement,     14.3 

8.  His  perjyiing  in  thefe  Principles ^  and  jujii- 
fying  his  PraBice ;  not  rendering  any  fatisfaBion 
to  us,  when  regularly  dejired,  but  rather  offending, 
and  diffatisfying  ourf elves. 

\_Sl\  ^^  whofe  Names  are  under  written, 
heard  this  Paper  read  to  our  Paftor,  Mr.  Samuel 
P arris,  the  21//  of  April,  1693. 

Peter  Cloyce,  Seniour. 


Nathaniel  'Jigarfon,''^ 
Edward  Pulman, 
Aaron  Way, 
William  Way, 


Samuel  Nurce, 
John  'Jarboll, 
Tho??ias  Wilkins. 


Mr.  Parris's  Acknowledgment. 

FOR  as  much  as  it  is  the  undoubted  duty  of  all 
Chriftians  to  purfue  Peace,  PfaL  xxxiv.  14. 
even  to  a  reaching  of  it,  if  it  be  pollible,  Amos 
xii.  18,  19.  And  whereas  through  the  righteous. 
Sovereign,  and  awful  Providence  of  God,  the 
grand  Enemy  to  all  Chriftian  Peace,  has  been  of 
late  tremendoufly  let  loofe  in  divers  places  herea- 
bout, and  more  efpecially  among  our  finful  felves, 
not  only  to  interrupt  that  partial  peace  which  we 
did  fometimes  enjoy,  but  alfo  through  his  wiles 
and  temptations,  and  our  weaknefs,  and  corrup- 
tions, to  make  wider  breaches,  and  raife  more 
bitter  Animolities  between  too  many  of  us.  In 
which  dark  and   difficult  difpenfations,  we  have 

■''6  Perhaps  a  typographical  Er-  Pulman  is  Edward  Putman ;  Nurce 
ror.  Nathaniel  Ingerfon  or  Inger-  is  (ince  Neur/e ;  Jarboll  is  Tar- 
/o//\s  undoubtedly  meant.     Edward     M/. 


144-     Mr, Y2iXX\^\  Acknowledgement,     \si'\ 

been  all  or  moft  of  us  of  one  mind  for  a  time ;  and 
afterwards  of  differing  apprehenfions.  And  at 
laft  we  are  but  in  the  dark,  upon  ferious  thoughts 
of  all ;  and  after  many  Prayers,  I  have  been  moved 
to  prefent  to  you  (my  beloved  Flock)  the  follow- 
ing particulars,  in  way  of  Contribution  towards  a 
regaining  of  Chriftian  Concord ;  if  fo  be  we  be 
not  altogether  unappeafeable,  irreconcileable,  and 
fo  deititute  of  that  good  Spirit,  which  is  firft  pure, 
then  peaceable,  gentle,  and  eafy  to  be  intreated, 
'James  iii.  17.  viz. 

1.  In  that  the  Lord  ordered  the  late  horrid 
calamity77  (which  afterward  plague-like  fpread 
in  many  other  places)  to  break  out  iirft  in  my 
Family,  I  cannot  but  look  upon  as  a  very  fore 
rebuke,  and  humbling  providence,  both  to  my- 
felf  and  mine,  and  defire  fome  may  improve  it. 

2.  In  that  alfo  in  my  Family  were  fome  of 
both  parties,  njix.  Accufers  and  Accufed,  I  look 
alfo  upon  as  an  aggravation  of  that  rebuke,  as  an 
addition  of  Wormwood  to  the  Gall. 

3.  In  the  means  which  were  ufed  in  my  Fam- 
ily, though  totally  unknown  to  me  or  mine  (ex- 
cept Servants)  till  afterwards,  to  raife  Spirits  and 
Apparitions  in  no  better  than  a  Diabolical  way, 
I  do  alfo  look  upon  as  a  further  rebuke  of  Divine 
Providence.  And  by  all,  I  do  humbly  own  this 
day  before  the  Lord  and  his  People,  that  God 
has   been  righteoufly  fpitting   in  my  face,  Nwnb. 

"^  This  flatly  contradidls  thofe  who  have  charged  all  to  the  Devil. 


[58]     Mr.  V^rrh's  Acknowledgement.     145 

xii.  14.     And   I  defire  to   lye  low  under  all   this 
reproach,  and  to  lay  my  hand  on  my  mouth. 

[58]  4.  As  to  the  management  of  thefe  Myf- 
teries,  as  far  as  concerns  myfelf,  I  am  very  defi- 
rous  upon  further  light  to  own  any  errors  I  have 
therein  fallen  into,  and  can  come  to  a  difcerning 
of;  in  the  mean  while  I  do  acknowledge  upon 
after-confiderations,  that  were  the  fame  troubles 
again,  (which  the  Lord  of  his  rich  mercy  fore- 
ver prevent)  I  fhould  not  agree  with  my  former 
apprehenfions  in  all  points.      As  for  Inftance, 

1.  I  queftion  not  but  God  fometimes  fuffers 
the  Devil,  as  of  late,  to  afflicft  in  fhape  of  not 
only  Innocent,  but  Pious  perfons,  or  fo  to  delude 
the  Senfes  of  the  afflicted,  that  they  flrongly  con- 
ceit their  hurt  is  from  fuch  perfons,  when  indeed 
it  is  not. 

2.  The  improving  of  one  afflid:ed  to  inquire 
by  who  afflicts  the  other,  I  fear  may  be,  and  has 
been  unlawfully  ufed  to  Satan's  great  Advantage. 

3.  As  to  my  writing,  it  was  put  upon  me  by 
Authority,  and  therein  I  have  been  very  careful 
to  avoid  the  wronging  of  any. 

4.  As  to  my  Oath  I  never  meant  it,  nor  do  I 
know  how  it  can  be  otherwife  conftrued,  than  as 
vulgarly,  and  every  one  underftood,  yea,  and 
upon  inquiry  it  may  be  found  fo  worded  alfo. 

5.  As  to  any  palTage  in  preaching,  or  praying 
in  the  fore  hour  of  diftrefs  and  darknefs,  I  always 
intended  but  due  Juftice  on  each  hand,  and  that 
not  according  to  Men  but  God ;  who  knows  all 


146     Mr.  Parris's  Acknowledgment.      [5 81 

things  moft  perfedly ;  however  through  weak- 
nefs,  or  fore  exercife,  I  might  fometimes,  yea  and 
poffibly  fundry  times  unadvifedly  exprefs  myfelf. 

6.  As  to  feveral  that  have  confefTed  againft 
themfelves,  they  being  v^holly  ftrangers  to  me, 
but  yet  of  good  account  with  better  Men  than 
myfelf,  to  whom  alfo  they  are  well  known,  I  do 
not  pafs  fo  much  as  a  fecret  condemnation  upon 
them.  But  rather  feeing  God  hath  fo  amazingly 
lengthened  out  Satan's  Chain,  in  this  moft  for- 
midable outrage,  I  much  more  incline  to  fide 
with  the  Opinion  of  thofe  that  have  grounds  to 
hope  better  of  them. 

7.  As  to  all  that  have  unduly  fufFered  in  thefe 
matters,  either  in  their  Perfons  or  Relations, 
through  the  clouds  of  human  weaknefs,  and  Sa- 
tan's wiles  and  fophiftry,  I  do  truly  fympathize 
with  them,  taking  it  for  granted,  that  fuch  as 
know  themfelves  clear  of  this  great  tranfgreffion, 
or  that  have  fufficient  grounds  io  to  look  upon 
their  dear  Friends,  have  hereby  been  under  thofe 
fore  tryals  and  temptations,  that  not  an  ordinary 
meafure  of  true  grace  would  be  fufficient  to  pre- 
vent a  bewraying  of  remaining  corruption. 

8.  I  am  very  much  in  the  mind,  and  abund- 
antly perfwaded  that  God  for  holy  ends   (though 

;  for  what  in  particular,  is  beft  known  to  himfelf ) 
:  has  fuffered  the  Evil  Angels  to  delude  us  on  both 
.'  hands ;  but  how  far  on  the  one  fide,  or  the  other, 
/   is  much  above  me  to  fay,  and  if  we  cannot  recon- 
cile  till  we   come   to   a  full   difcerning   of  thefe 


[59]     Mr,  Parris's  Acknowledgment,      i^y 

things,  I  fear  we  fhall  never  come  to  an  agree- 
ment, or  at  fooneft  not  in  this  World. 

[59]  Therefore  in  fine,  the  matter  being  fo 
dark  and  perplexed,  as  that  there  is  no  prefent 
appearance,  that  all  God's  Servants  fhould  be  alto- 
gether of  one  mind  in  all  circumftances,  touching 
the  fame  ;  I  do  moft  heartily,  fervently,  and  hum- 
bly befeech  pardon  of  the  merciful  God,  through 
the  Blood  of  Chrift  for  all  my-  miftakes  and  tref- 
pafTes  in  fo  weighty  a  matter.  And  alfo  all  your 
forgivenefs  of  every  offence,  in  this  or  other 
affairs,  wherein  you  fee  or  conceived  that  I  have 
erred  and  offended,  profefling  in  the  prefence  of 
the  Almighty  God,  that  what  I  have  done  has 
been  as  for  fubftance  as  I  apprehended  was  [my] 
duty,  however  thro'  weaknefs.  Ignorance,  &c.  I 
may  have  been  miflaken.  I  alfo  thro'  grace 
promifing  each  of  you  the  like  of  me ;  fo  again 
I  beg,  intreat,  and  befeech  you,  that  Satan,  the 
Devil,  the  roaring  Lion,  the  old  Dragon,  the 
Enemy  of  all  Righteoufnefs,  may  no  longer  be 
ferved  by  us,  by  our  Envy  and  Strifes,  where  every 
evil  work  prevails  whilft  thefe  bear  fway,  "James 
iii.  14,  15,  16,  But  that  all  from  this  day  for- 
ward may  be  covered  with  the  mantle  of  love, 
and  we  may  on  all  hands  forgive  each  other 
heartily,  fincerely  and  thoroughly,  as  we  do  hope 
and  pray,  that  God  for  Chrift's  fake  would  forgive 
each  of  ourfelves.  Mat.  xviii.  21.  to  the  end. 
Colof.  iii.  12,  13.  Put  on  therefore  [as  the  eleB  of 
God  J  holy  and  beloved)  bowels  of  ?jierciesy  kindnefs, 
Y 


14-8  T'he  Councils  at  Salem.  [59] 

humblenefs  of  mind,  meeknefs,  long-fuffering ;  For- 
bearing one  another,  and  forgiving  one  another,  f 
any  man  have  a  quarrel  againji  any,  even  as  Chriji 
forgave  you,  fo  alfo  do  ye.  Eph.  iv.  31,  32.  Let 
all  bitter nefs,  and  anger,  and  clamour,  and  evil- 
fpeaking  be  put  away  from  you  with  all  malice. 
And  be  ye  kind  one  to  another,  tender-hearted,  for- 
giving one  another,  even  as  God  for  Chrif  s  fake, 
hath  forgiven  you.     Amen.     Amen. 

Samuel  Parris. 

Given  to  the  DifTenting  Brethren,  for  their  con- 
fideration  of,  at  their  requeft.     Nov.  26,  1694. 

T^he  Elders  and  Me[fe7tgers  of  the  churches 
met  at  Salem  Village^  April  3,  1695,  /^ 
confider  and  deter 7nine  what  is  to  be  done^ 
for  the  compofure  of  the  prefent  unhappy 
differences  in  that  place.  After  fole^nn 
invocation  of  God  in  Chrifi  for  his  di- 
reEiion^  do  unanimoufy  declare^  as  fol- 
low eth^  viz. 

I.  ^^^E  judge  that  all  be  it  in  the  late  and  dark 
V  ▼  time  of  the  confufions,  wherein  Satan 
had  obtained  a  more  than  ordinary  liberty,  to 
be  fifting  of  this  Plantation,  there  were  fundry  un- 
warrantable, and  uncomfortable  fteps,  taken  by 
Mr.  Samuel  Parris,  the  Paftor  of  the  Church  in 
Salem  Village,  then  under  the  hurrying  difl:ra(5tions 


[6o] 


The  Couficih  at  Salem.  149 


of  amazing  Afflictions ;  yet  the  faid  Mr.  F arris,    . 
by  the  good  hand  of  God  brought  unto  a  better  Xy 
fenfe  of  things,  hath    fo  fully  expreft  it,  that  a 
Chriflian  charity  may  and  fhould  receive  fatisfac- 
tion  therewith. 

[60]  2.  Inafmuch  as  diverfe  Chriftian  Breth- 
ren, in  the  Church  of  Sale?n  Village,  have  been 
offended  at  Mr.  Parris,  for  his  condud;  in  the 
time  of  their  difficulties,  which  have  diftrelTed 
them  ;  we  now  advife  them  Charitably  to  accept 
the  fatisfadtion  which  he  hath  tendered  in  his 
Chriftian  acknowledgment  of  the  Errors  therein 
committed  ;  yea  to  endeavour,  as  far  as  it  is  poffi- 
ble,  the  fulleft  reconciliation  of  their  minds  unto 
Communion  with  him,  in  the  whole  Exercife  of 
his  Miniftry,  and  with  the  reft  of  the  Church, 
Matt.  vi.  12,  14.     Luke  xvii.  3.     James  v.  16. 

3.  Conlidering  the  extream  tryals  and  troubles,  \ 
which  the  dilTatisfied  Brethren  in  the  Church  of  v 
Salem  Village  have  undergone,  in  the  day  of  fore 
temptation,  which  hath  been  upon  them ;  we 
cannot  but  advife  the  Church  to  treat  them  with 
bowels  of  much  compaffion,  inftead  of  all  more 
critical,  or  rigorous  proceedings  againft  them  for 
the  Infirmities  difcovered  by  them,  in  fuch  an 
heart-breaking  day  ;  and  if  after  a  patient  waiting 
for  it,  the  faid  Brethren  cannot  fo  far  overcome 
the  uneafinefs  of  their  Spirits,  in  the  remembrance 
of  the  difafters  that  have  hapned,  as  to  lit  under 
his  Miniftry ;  we  advife  the  Church  with  all 
tendernefs  to  grant  them  admiffion  to  any  other 


150  The  Councils  at  Salem.  [61] 

Society  of  the  Faithful,  whereunto  they  may  be 
defired  to  be  difmift.  Gal.  vi.  i,  2.  Pfal.  ciii.  13, 
14.  yob  xix.  21. 

4.  Mr.  Parris  having  (as  we  underftand)  with 
J'  much  fidelity  and  integrity  acquitted  himfelf,  in 

the  main  courfe  of  his  Miniftry,  fince  he  hath 
been  Paftor  of  the  Church  of  Sale??2  Village; 
about  his  firft  call  whereunto,  we  look  upon  all 
conteftations  now  to  be  both  unreafonable  and 
unfeafonable :  And  our  Lord  having  made  him  a 
bleffing  to  the  Souls  of  not  a  few,  both  old  and 
young  in  this  place,  we  advife  that  he  be  accord- 
ingly refpedted,  honour'd  and  fupported,  with  all 
the  regards  that  are  due  to  a  painful  Minifter  of 
the  gofpel.      I  The/,  v.  12,  13.      i  Tim.  v.  17. 

5.  Having  obferved  that  there  is  in  Salem  Vil- 
lage, a  Spirit  full  of  contention  and  animofity,  too 
fadly  verifying  the  blemifh  which  hath  heretofore 
lain  upon  them :  And  that  fome  complaints 
againft  Mr.  Parris  have  been  either  caufelefs,  or 
groundlefs,  or  unduly  aggravated ;  we  do  in  th-e 
name  and  fear  of  the  Lord  folemnly  warn  them 
to  confider,  whether  if  they  continue  to  devour 
one  another  it  will  not  be  bitternefs  in  the  latter 
end,  and  beware  left  the  Lord  be  provoked  thereby 
utterly  to  deprive  them  of  thofe  (which  they 
fhould  count)  their  precious  and  pleafant  things, 
and  abandon  them  to  all  the  defolations  of  a  Peo- 
ple that  fin  away  the  Mercies  of  the  Gofpel. 
James  iii.  16.  Gal.  v.  15.  2  Sam.  ii.  26.  If  a. 
V.  45.     Mat.  xxi.  43. 


[6i]  The  Councils  at  SdX^m.  151 

6.  If  the  Diftempers  in  Salem  Village  fhould 
be  (which  God  forbid)  fo  incurable,  that  Mr. 
Parris  after  all  find  that  he  cannot  with  any 
comfort  and  fervice  continue  in  his  prefent  Sta- 
tion, his  removal  from  thence  will  [61]  not  expofe 
him  to  any  hard  Charadler  with  us  ;  nor  we  hope 
with  the  reft  of  the  People  of  God,  among  whom 
we  live.  Matt.  x.  14.  ABs  xxii.  18.  All  which 
advice  we  follow,  with  our  Prayers  that  the  God 
of  Peace  would  bruife  Satan  under  our  Feet ;  now 
the  Lord  of  Peace  himfelf  give  you  Peace  always 
by  all  means. 

John  Walley^ 
Jer.  Dummer, 
Neh.  Jewitt, 
Ephr.  Hunt, 
Nath.  Williams, 
Incr.  Mather, 


Jof.  Bridgham,"'^ 
Samuel  Chickley, 
William  Tory, 
Jof.  Boynton, 
Richard  Middle- 
cutt. 


Samuel  Phillips, 
James  Allen, 
Samuel  Tory, 
Samuel  Willard, 
Edward  Paifon, 
Cotton  Mather. 


79  Jofeph  Bridgham  was  probably 
the  Son  of  Henry,  of  Dorchefter, 
and  afterwards  of  Bofton,  born  in 
1651.     He  was  a  Member  of  the 
Artillery  Company,  Reprefentative, 
and   in    other  Walks  a   prominent 
Man.     He  died  about  1709.     Sam- 
uel   Checkley  was   the  Minifter  of 
the    New   South    Church,    Bofton. 
Jeremiah    Dummer    was    the    well 
known  Author,  the  Defence  of  the 
New    England   Charters.      Nehe- 
miah  Jewett,  I  fuppofe,  was  of  Ipf- 
wich,    a    Reprefentative,     and,    at 
one  Time,  Speaker  of  the  Houfe, 
and  died  about  1720.     James  Al- 
len was  Minifter  of  the  Firft  Church, 


Bofton.  Samuel  T'iirr-fy  was  Min- 
ifter of  Weymouth,  and  died  in 
1707.  William  Torrey  was  alfo 
of  Weymouth,  and  Brother  of  the 
Rev.  Samuel.  Jofeph  Boynton  was 
of  Rowley.  Richard  Uiddlecott 
was  of  Bofton.  John  Walley  was 
probably  the  Major  Walley  who 
Ihared  the  Difgrace  of  the  ill  ad- 
vifed  and  iller  executed  Expedition 
againft  Canada,  under  Sir  William 
Phips.  Hunt  was  another  of 
Phips's  Colonels,  &c.,  was  of  Wey- 
mouth,  and  died  1713.  Wil- 
liams was  probably  the  Nathaniel 
Williams,  of  Bofton,  a  Commiflary 
in  Philip's  War.     '?,amuel  Phillips 


1^2  A  Letter  to  the  Riders,  [6 1  ] 

To  the  Reverend  Elders  of  the  Three 
Churches  of  Chrift,  at  Bojlon^  with 
others  the  Elders  and  Brethren  of  other 
Churches,  late  of  a  Council  at  Salem 
Village. 

WE  whofe  Names  are  hereunto  Subfcribed,  are 
bold  once  more  to  trouble  y  ou  with  our  hum- 
ble Propofals.  That  whereas  there  has  been  long 
and  uncomfortable  differences  among  us,  chiefly  relat- 
ing to  Mr.  Parris  ;  and  we  having,  as  we  apprehend, 
attended  all  probable  means  for  a  compofure  of  our 
troubles ;  and  whereas  we  had  hopes  of  an  happy 
Iffue,  by  your  endeavors  among  us,  but  now  are  ut- 
terly fruftrated  of  our  ExpeBations,  and  that  injiead 
of  uniting,  our  rent  is  made  worfe,  and  our  breach 
made  wider. 

We  humbly  ^ery.  Whether  yourfelves  being 
jlreightned  of  time,  might  not  omit  Juch  fatisfaBory 
liberty  of  debating  the  whole  of  our  Controverfie ; 
whereby  yourfelves  had  not  fo  large  an  opportunity 
of  underftanding  the  Cafe ;  nor  the  offended  fo  much 
reafon  to  be  fatisfied  in  your  advice :  We  therefore 
humbly  prop  of e,  and  give  full  liberty  of  proving  and 
defending  of  what  may  be  charged  on  either  hand, 

was  the  Minifter  of  Rowley,  per-  dent  of  Harvard  College,  &c. ;  he 

haps,  who  died  in  1696.     Samuel  died    in    1707.       See    Note   ante. 

Willard,   of  the    Old   South,   Au-  Edward   Payfon    was   Minifter    of 

thor  of  A  Body  of  Divinity,  and  Rowley,  and  was  Father  of  feven- 

other  theological  Work,  Vice-Prefi-  teen  Children,  and  died  1732. 


[62] 


A  l^etter  to  the  Elders.  153 


leaving  it  to  yourfehes   to   appoint  both  time  and 
place. 

1 .  'That  if  y our f elves  pleafe  to  take  the  trouble 
with  patience  once  more  to  hear  the  whole  Cafe. 

2.  Or  that  you  will  more  plainly  advife  Mr.  Par- 
ris,  [th^  Cafe  being  fo  circumjlanced,  that  he  cannot 
with  comfort  or  profit^  to  himfelf  or  others,  abide  in 
the  Work  of  the  Miniflry  amojig  us)  to  ceafe  his 
labours,  and  feek  to  difpofe  himfelf  elfewhere,  as  God 
in  his  Providence  may  direB :  and  that  yourf elves 
would  pleafe  to  help  us  in  advifng  to  fuch  a  choice, 
wherein  we  may  be  more  unanimous ;  which  we  hope 
would  tend  much  to  a  compofure  of  our  differences. 

3.  Or,  that  we  may  without  any  offence  take  the 
liberty  of  calling  fo??ie  other  proved  Minifer  of  the 
Gofpel,  to  Preach  the  Word  of  God  to  us  and  ours : 
[62]  and  that  we  may  not  be  denied  our  proportion- 
able privilege,  in  our  publick  difburfments  in  the 
place. 

So  leaving  the  whole  case  with  the  Lord  and 
yourfelves,  we  Subfcribe  our  Names.  Signed  by 
16  young  Men,  from  16  upwards;  and  52  Houf- 
holders,  and  18  Church  Members.  This  was 
delivered  to  the  Miniflers,  May  3,  1695.^° 

^0  Whether  the  Original   manu-  at  this  Time,  and  the  Hiftorian  of 

fcript  of  this  Paper  is  in  exiftence  I  Salem  Ihould   not  ceafe  his  Labours 

have  not  learned.  The  Names  of  the  until   it  is  found,  if  anywhere   pre- 

Signers  would  be  of  much  intereft  ferved. 


154  A  hetter  to  the  Elders,  [62] 

The  Copy  of  a  Paper  that  was  handed  about 
touching  thofe  Differences, 

AS  to  the  conteft  between  Mr.  Parris  and  his 
Hearers,  &c.  it  may  be  compofed  by  a  Sat- 
isfadlory  Anfwer,  to  Levit.  xx.  6.  And  the  Soul 
that  turneth  after  fuch  as  have  familiar  Spirits^ 
and  after  Wizzards,  to  go  a  whoring  after  them, 
I  will  even  fet  my  face  againft  that  Soul ;  and  will 
cut  him  ojf  from  among  his  People,  i  Chron.  x. 
13,  14.  So  Saul  died  for  his  tranfgrefpon,  which  he 
committed  againfl  the  Lord,  even  againft  the  word  of 
the  Lord,  which  he  kept  not,  and  alfo  for  afking 
Counfl  of  one  that  had  afatniliar  Spirit  to  inquire 
of  it.  And  inquired  not  of  the  Lord,  therefore  he 
Jlew  him,  &c.^^ 

SI  One  who  was  as  firm  a  Be-  rations,   when    they  were   involved 

liever  as  Dr.  Mather  in  Witch  Mys-  in  fuch  a  Dark  and  Difmal  scene  of 

teries,   remarks    in    Juftification    of  Providence,    in   which    Satan    did 

what  was  done — "  That  I  may  fat-  feem  to  Spin  a  finer  Thred  of  Spi- 

isfy  fuch  as  are  not  refolved   to  the  ritual  Wickednefs   than  in  the  ordi- 

Contrary;  that   there  may  be  (and  nary  methods  of  Witchcraft;  hence 

are)  fuch  Operations  of  the  Powers  the  Judges  defiring  to  bear  due  Tef- 

of    Darknefs    on    the    Bodies   and  timony,  againfl  fuch  Diabolical  Prac- 

Minds    of    Mankind ;    by    Divine  tices,  were  inclined    to  admit    the 

Permiffion ;  and  that  thofe  who  fate  validity  of  fuch  a  fort  of  Evidence, 

Judges  in  thofe  Cafes,   may  by  the  as  was   not  fo  clearly  and  direftly 

ferious  Confideration  of  the  formi-  demonftrable   to  Human  Senfes,  as 

dable   Afpeft    and   perplexed   Cir-  in  other  Cafes  is  required   or  elfe 

cumftances,    of  that  Afflidlive  Pro-  they  could  not  difcover  the  Myfte- 

vidence ;  be   in  fome  meafure   ex-  ries  of  Witchcraft ;  I  prefume  not 

cufed ;  or  at  leaft   be  lefs  cenfured,  to  impofe  upon    my    Chrijlian   or 

for    pafling    Sentence    on    feveral  Learned   Reader ;    any  opinion  of 

Perfons,    as  being   the  Inftruments  mine,  how  far  Satan  was  an  Inftru- 

of  Satan  in  thofe  Diabolical  Ope-  ment   in    God's    Hand,    in   thofe 


[62]  Controverjie   Stated.  155 

Some  part  of  the  Determination  of  the 
Elders  and  Meffengers  of  the  Churches, 
met  at  Salem  Village,  April  3,  1695, 
relating  to  the  Differences  there. 

IF  the  Dijiemper  in  Salem  Village  Jhould be  (which 
God  forbid)  fo  incurable  that  Mr.  Parris  after 
all,  find  that  he  cannot  with  any  cofnfort  and  fervice 
continue  in  this  prefent  fiation,  his  removal  from 
thence  will  not  expofe  him  to  any  hard  CharaBer 
with  us  (nor  we  hope)  with  the  refl  of  the  People  of 
God,  among  whom  we  live.  Mat.  x.  14.  And  whofo- 
ever  fhall  not  receive  you,  nor  hear  your  words ; 
when  you  depart  out  of  that  houfe,  or  city,  {hake 
off  the  duft  of  your  feet,  ^c.  Acts  xxii.  18. 
All  which  Advice  we  follow  with  our  Prayers, 
that  the  God  of  Peace  would  bruife  Satan  under  our 
feet.  Now  the  Lord  of  Peace  give  you  Peace  al- 
ways, by  all  fneans,  &c. 

^ueji.  Whether  Mr.  Parris  his  going  to  Abi- 

amazing  Affliftions,  which  were  on  not  at  all  ftrange  that  fome  among 

many    Perfons   there,   [at    Salemj  the   very  Confcientious  people   in- 

about  that  time ;  but  I  am  certainly  quired  as  to  the  DiiFerence  between 

convinced,  that  the  Great  God  was  the  Malignant  and  Supreme  Power; 

pleafed   to  lengthen  his  Chain  to  a  that  is,  if  the  Supreme  controlled 

very  great  Degree,   for  the  hurting  the  Malignant,  there  was  no  quef- 

of  5e;/V^  and  reproaching  of  0/^/frj',  tion  "to    whom    the  Ccnfequences 

as  far  as   he   was  permitted  to  do  were    to  be  charged ;    and    hence 

fo." — Lawfon, />/2^i?j- 93-4.  it   is   in  no  wife  to   be   wondered 

From    this    Author's    uncertain  at   that    fome   in    their   Simplicity 

view   of    the    Operations    of    the  could  not  underftand  what  ufe  there 

Devil    (which   was   the  View   of  a  was  for  any  Devil  at  all,  mutch  lefs 

great  majority  of  the  World),  it  is  for  Witches. 

z 


156  Contr  over  fie  Stated.^  [63] 

gail  Williams  '^'^  (and  others)  whom  he  fuppofed  to 
have  a  Spectral  fight  (to  be  informed  who  were 
Witches  and  who  afflidted  thofe  pretended  fufFer- 
ers  by  Witchcraft)  in  order  to  their  being  quef- 
tioned  upon  their  lives  for  it,  were  not  a  turning 
after  fuch  as  had  famiHar  Spirits ;  and  a  greater 
wickednefs  than  Saul  was  guilty  of  (in  that  he 
did  not  intend  thereby  bodily  hurt  to  any  others.) 

And  whether  in  a  crime  of  fuch  a  high  nature, 
the  making  a  llender  and  general  confeffion,  with- 
out any  propofals  of  reparations,  or  due  time  of 
probation,  ought  fo  far  to  be  accounted  fufficient, 
from  fuch  a  Paftor  to  his  People. 

[63]  And  whether  fuch  as  were  accufed,  or 
the  furviving  Friends  and  Relations  of  thofe  that 
were  any  ways  fufferers,  by  Accufations  fo  by  him 
proved,  are  in  duty  and  confcience  bound  to  con- 
tinue their  refped;,  honour  and  fupport  to  him,  in 
the  Miniftry,  after  fuch  known  departures  from 
the  Rule  of  Gods  word,  and  'after  fuch  dire  ef- 
fed:s  as  followed  thereupon,  under  the  penalty  of 
the  duft  jhaken  from  his  feet^  teftifying  againfl 
them,  even  fo  as  to  render  them  in  a  worfe  cafe 
than  thofe  of  Sodom  and  Gomorrah. 


^-  Mr.     Lawfon    lays    Ihc    was     Brief  and  True  Nar.,  P.  3.     Much 
"  about   twelve   Years  of  Age."—     more  concerning  her  will  be  found. 


[63] 


To  the  Arbitrators,  157 


To  the  Honourable  Wait  Winthrop,^^  Elifha 
Cook,^^  and  Samuel  Sewall,  EfquireSy 
Arbitrators  indifferently  chofen^  between 
Mr.  Samuel  Parris,  and  the  inhabitants 
(?/^  Salem  Village, 

THE  Remonftrances  of  feveral  aggrieved  per- 
fons  in  the  faid  Village,  with  further  reafons 
why  they  conceive  they  ought  not  to  hear  Mr. 
Parris,  nor  to  own  him  as  a  Minifter  of  the 
Gofpel,  nor  to  contribute  any  fupport  to  him  as 
fuch,  for  feveral  Years  paft ;  humbly  offered  as  fit 
for  confideration. 

We  humbly  conceive  that  having  in  April  1 693, 
given  our  Reafons  why  we  could  not  join  with 
Mr.  Parris  in  Prayer,  Preaching,  or  Sacraments. 
If  thefe  Reafons  are  found  fufficient  for  our  with- 
drawing, (and  we  cannot  yet  find  but  they  are) 
Then  we  conceive  ourfelves  virtually  difcharged, 
not  only  in  Confcience,  but  alfo  in  Law ;  which 
requires  maintenance  to  be  given  to  fuch  as  are 
Orthodox,  and  blamelefs.  The  faid  Mr.  Parris  1 
having  been  teaching  fuch  dangerous  Errors,  and  j 
preached  fuch  fcandalous  Immoralities,  as  ought 


83  Wait  Sti//v/a.s  his  full  Name,  under  Notice.  He  wrote  his  Name 
He  was  Son  of  Gov.  John  Win-  Cooke.  I  need  only  refer  to  Al- 
throp,  ofConnefticut;  diedinBof-  len's  Biographical  Dictionary  and 
ton  about  1717.  the  Hijl.  and  Antiq's  of  Bojlon  for 

84  Mr.  Cook  was  one  of  the  very  an  Account  of  him.  He  agreed  with 
diftinguifhed   Men    of  the    Period  Mr.  Calef  about  the  New  Charter. 


/ 


1^8  To  the  Arbitrators.  [64] 

to  difcharge  any  (tho  ever  fo  gifted  otherways) 
from  the  work  of  the  Miniflry. 

Particularly  in  his  Oath  againll  the  lives  of 
feveral,  wherein  he  fwears  that  the  Prifoners  with 
their  looks  knock  down  thofe  pretended  fufferers. 

,  We  humbly  conceive,  that  he  that  Swears  to 
more  than  he  is  certain  of,  is  equally  guilty  of 

\  Perjury,  with  him  that  Swears  to  what  is  falfe. 
And  tho  they  did  fall  at  fuch  a  time,  yet  it  could 
not  be  known  that  they  did  it,  much  lefs  could 
they  be  certain  of  it ;  yet  did  Swear  politively 
againft  the  lives  of  fuch,  as  he  could  not  have  any 
knowledge  but  they  might  be  Innocent. 

His  believing;  the  Devil's  Accufations,  and  read- 
ily  departing  from  all  Charity  to  perfons,  tho  of 

;  blamelefs  and  godly  lives,  upon  fuch  fuggeftions, 

I  his  promoting  fuch  Accufations,  as  alfb  his  par- 
tiality therein,  in  flifling  the  Accufations  of  fome, 
and  the  fame  time  vigilantly  promoting  others ; 
as  we  conceive  are  juft  caufes  for  our  refufal,  &c. 
That  Mr.  Parris's  going  to  Mary  Walcut^^  or 
Abigail  Williams,  and  dire6ting  others  to  them,  to 
know  who  afHidted  the  Feon»le  in  their  illnefies ; 
[64J  v/e  underfland  this  to  be  a  dealing  with 
them  that  have  a  familiar  fpirit,  and  an  implicit 
denying  the  providence  of  God,  which  alone,  as 
we  believe,  can  fend  Afflictions,  or  caufe  Devils 
to  Affli(5t  any ;  this  we  alfo  conceive  fufiicient  to 
juftifie  fuch  refufal. 

^■'  She  was  a  Daughter,  I  iuppofc,  was  an  early  Sale.u  Family,  fome  of 
of  Jonathan  Walcut,  by  Wife  Mar)-,  whom  went  to  Rhode  Ifland,  where 
Daughter  of  John  Sibley.     Walcut     Defcendants  are  yet  found. 


[6+] 


To  the  Arbitrators.  159 


That  Mr.  Parris  by  thefe  Pra(5tices  and  Prin- 
ciples, has  been  the  beginner  and  procurer  of  the 
forell  Afflidiions,  not  to  this  Village  only,  but  to 
this  whole  Country,  that  did  ever  befal  them. 

We  the  Subfcribers,  in  behalf  of  ourfelves,  and 
of  feveral  others  of  the  fame  mind  with  us 
(touching  thefe  things)  having  fome  of  us  had 
our  Relations  by  thefe  practices  taken  off  by  an 
untimely  Death ;  others  have  been  imprifoned, 
and  fuffered  in  our  Perfons,  Reputations,  and  Ef- 
tates  ;  fubmit  the  whole  to  your  Honours  decifion, 
to  determine  whether  we  are  or  ought  to  be  any 
ways  obliged  to  honour,  refpe6t  and  fupport  fuch 
an  Inftrument  of  our  miferies ;  praying  God  to 
guide  your  Honours,  to  ad:  herein,  as  may  be  for 
his  Glory,  and  the  future  fettlement  of  our  Vil- 
lage, in  Amity  and  Unity. 

John  Tarball,^^  \ 

Samuel  Nurse,     '  Attornies  for  the  people 
Jos.  Putnam,         .      of  the  Village. 
Dan.  Andrew,      / 

Bofton,  July  21,  1697. 

According  to  the  order  of  the  aforefaid  arbitra- 
tors, the  faid  Mr.  Parris^  had  fome  of  his  arrears 
paid  him,  as  alfo  a  fum  of  money  for  his  repairs 
of  the  minifterial  houfe  of  the  faid  Village,  and 
is  difmiffed  therefrom. 


^''  Tarball    and    Nurfe    are   the     others  will  be  noticed  onward,  in  the 
fame  mentioned  at  Note  jj.     The     Account  of  the  Trials. 


i6o       A  hetter  about  Witchcraft.      [65] 


PART    IV. 

A  Letter  of  a  Gentleman  ^7  endeavouring  to 
prove  the  received  Opinions  about  Witch- 
craft. 

SIR, 

I  Told  you,  I  had  fome  thoughts  concerning 
Witchcraft,  and  an  Intention  of  conferring  with 
the  Gentleman,^^  who  has  pubhfhed  feveral  Trea- 
tifes  about  Witchcraft,  and  perfons  afflifted  by 
them,  lately  here  in  New- England;  but  fince  you 
have  put  thofe  three  Books  into  my  hands,  I  find 
myfelf  engaged  in  a  very  hard  Province,  to  give 
you  my  opinion  of  them.  I  plainly  forefee,  that 
fhould  this  fcribhng  of  mine  come  to  [65]  pub- 
lick  view,  it  would  difpleafe  all  Parties,  but  that 

«'  The  only  Mention  of  the  Au-  Stuart"  was,  perhaps.  Chaplain  on 

thor  of  thefe    Letters  I  have  met  board  the  Man-of-war.     The  Doc- 

with  is  contained  in  the  Anfwer  to  tor  thinks  Mr.  Calef  was  very  filly 

the  More  Wonders,  by  Dr.  Mather,  to  print  the  Letters,  becaufe  they 

and  is  in  this  Paffage  :   "  The  Anti-  were,  in  his  Judgment,  a  complete 

/criptural  Doarinesd^o\ikA.hy  this  Vindication    of   Witchcraft.      Mr. 

Man  [Calef]  do  alfo  call  for  no  fur-  Calef  was  willing  all  fhould  be  faid 

ther  Anfwer  ;  for  a  certain  Scotch-  on  that  fide  that  could  be  faid.     He 

man  (one  Stuart)  of  no  very  great  felt  fully  convinced  that, 

Circumftances,  aboard  one  of  our  "  Falfehoods  which  we  fpurn  To-day 

Frigates  then  in  our  Harbour,  fent  ,  ^^"^^  ?'7r^l°r  ,f°"^"^° ' 

,.°_,  ,  i-i_iL  Let  the  dead  Bough  fall  away, 

him    Two    Letters,    which    he   has  Frefher  fhall  the  living  grow." 

been   fo    filly  as   to  infert   in    his  Whittwr. 

wretched  Volume."      This    "  one  88  Doftor  Mather. 


[65]      A  Letter  about  Witchcraft.       161 

is  the  leaft ;  moreover  it  is  fo  far  out  of  my  Road 
to  fet  my  thoughts  to  conlider  a  matter  on  every 
fide,  which  in  itfelf  is  fo  abftruce,  and  every  ftep 
I  advance  therein,  if  I  mifs  truth  (which  is  a 
narrow  and  undivided  line)  I  muft  tumble  down 
headlong  into  the  Gulph  of  dangerous  error ;  yet 
notwithftanding  I  have  forced  myfelf  to  fend 
thefe  few  lines,  if  fo  be  I  may  clear  to  you  a 
truth,  you  now  feem  to  be  offended  at,  becaufe 
of  the  ill  confequences,  which  (you  think)  lately 
have  and  again  may  be  drawn  from  it,  by  the  ill 
condud;  of  fome  Men.  I  am  not  ignorant  that 
the  pious  frauds  of  the  Ancient,  and  the  inbred 
fire  (I  do  not  call  it  pride)  of  many  of  our 
Modern  Divines  have  precipitated  them  to  propa- 
gate, and  maintain  truth  as  well  as  falfehood,  in 
fuch  an  unfair  manner,  as  has  given  advantage  to 
the  Enemy,  to  fufped:  the  whole  Dod:rine,  thefe 
Men  have  profefl  to  be  nothing  but  a  meer  trick. 
But  it  is  certain,  that  as  no  lover  of  truth  will 
juftifie  an  Illegitimate  Corollary,  tho  drawn  from 
a  true  Propofition ;  fo  neither  will  he  rejed:  a 
truth,  becaufe  fome  or  many  Men  take  unfair 
mediums  to  prove  it,  or  draw  falfe  confequences 
from  it :  The  many  Herefies  among  Chriftians, 
muft  not  give  a  mortal  wound  to  the  Cffence  of 
the  Chriftian  Religion ;  neither  muft  any  one 
Chriftian  Do6trine  be  exterminated,  becaufe  Evil 
Men  make  ufe  of  it,  as  a  Cloak  to  cover  their 
own  felf-ends ;  particularly,  becaufe  fome  men 
perhaps  among  all  forts  of  Chriftians,  have  under 


1 62      A  Letter  about  Witchcraft.       [66] 

pretence  of  Witchcraft  coloured  their  own  Mal- 
ice, Pride  and  Popularity  ;  we  muil:  not  therefore 
conclude  (firft)  that  there  are  no  Witches  (2.)  or 
that  Witches  cannot  be  Convided  by  fuch  clear 
and  undeniable  proof,  as  the  Law  of  God  requires 
in  the  cafe  of  Death  (3.)  Or  that  a  Witch  fo 
Convidled  ought  not  to  be  put  to  death,  i .  That 
there  are  Witches  is  manfell  from  the  precept  of 
Mofes,  Thoufialt  not  fuffer  a  Witch  to  live.  Exod. 
xxii.  18.  for  it  is  certain  God  would  not  have 
given  a  vain  and  unintelligible  Law,  as  this  muft 
be  of  putting  Witches  to  death,  if  there  are  no 
Witches.  But  you  objed:  that  this  doth  not 
anfwer  our  Cafe,  for  we  have  formed  another 
Idea  of  Witches  than  what  can  be  gathered  from 
Scriptures ;  you  quote  four  places,  viz.  Deut.  xiii. 
\  Mat.  xxiv.  ABs  xiii.  2.  Tim.  iii.  from  all  v/hich 
you  infer  that  Witchcraft  is  a  maligning  and 
oppugning  the  Word,  Works  and  Worfhip  of 
God ;  and  by  an  extraordinary  fign,  feeking  to 
feduce  any  from  it,  and  this  you  readily  grant. 
But  then  you  fay,  What  is  this  to  Witches  now  a 
days  ?  who  are  faid  to  have  made  an  explicit 
Covenant  with  the  Devil,  and  to  be  impowered 
by  him,  to  the  doing  of  things  ftrange  in  them- 
felves,  and  beiides  their  natural  courfe.  This  you 
fay  does  not  follow,  and  herein  indeed  confifts  the 
whole  Controverlie.  Therefore  it  is  necelTary, 
that  firft  of  all  we  clear  this  point,  laying  afide 
thofe  prejudices  we  may  have  from  the  fatal  ap- 
plication  of  this   Dodlrine,  [66]   to    fome  (who 


[66]       A  Letter  about  Witchcraft,       163 

were  in  your  judgment)  really  at  leaft  in  Law, 
and  before  Men  Innocent.  In  a  word,  we  are 
feeking  after  truth,  and  truth  fhall  and  will  be 
truth,  in  fpite  of  Men  and  Devils.  I  do  not 
repeat  this  caution  to  foreftall  you,  to  believe  the 
Doctrine  of  Witchcraft,  as  it  is  above  defined, 
without  inquiring  into  the  reafon  and  truth  of  it ; 
only  I  defire  you  to  enquire  into  it,  as  a  thing 
doubtful.  For  no  Man  can  be  certain  of  a  Ne- 
gative, unlefs  either  the  Affirmative  imply  a  con- 
tradidiion,  or  he  can  prove  it  by  certain  teftimony, 
to  neither  of  which  you  pretend ;  only  you  al- 
ledge  it  cannot  be  proved  by  Scripture,  /.  e.  you 
cannot  prove  it,  nor  have  feen  it  proved  by  any 
other  you  have  read  on  that  Subje6l.  I  am  not 
fo  vain  as  to  think  I  can  do  better  than  the  learned 
Authors  you  have  confulted  with  (though  I  know 
not  what  they  have  done,  for  I  had  no  other 
Book  but  the  Bible,  to  make  ufe  of  on  this  occa- 
iion;)  but  becaufe  I  am  fatisfied  myfelf,  I  am 
willing  to  communicate  my  Reafons,  which  I 
divide  into  Three  heads,  i.  The  appearance  of 
Angels.  2.  The  nature  of  PofTeffion.  3  and  the 
fcripture  notion  of  Witchcraft,  i.  Good  Angels 
did  appear  to  Abraham^  and  did  eat.  Gen.  xv.  it 
feems  he  wafh'd  their  Feet,  it  is  certain  he  faw 
and  heard  them,  therefore  there  is  no  impoffibility 
in  Angels  being  converfant  with  men.  God  is 
true,  and  whatever  is  contained  in  Sacred  Writ  is 
true ;  if  we  poor  jfhallow  Mortals  do  not  com- 
prehend the  manner  how,  that  argues  only  our 
Aa 


164       A  hetter  about  Witchcraft.      [66] 

weaknefs  and  ignorance   in    this  dark    Prifon  of 
Flefh,  wherein  we  are  inclofed,  during  our  abode 
in  this  vale  of  mifery,  but  doth   not  in   the  leaft 
infringe  the  verity  of  the  Scripture  ;  it  is  fufficient 
that  we  undoubtedly  know  they  have   appeared 
unto  Men  in  bodily  fhape,  and  done  their  Errand 
they  were  fent  on  from  God.     Now  if  good  An- 
gels have  appeared,  why  may  not  bad  ?     Surely 
the    Devils,    becaufe   fallen    and    Evil,  have  not 
therefore   loft   the   Nature  of  Angels,  neither  is 
there  any  contradidion  in  their  appearing  in  a 
bodily  fliape,    now   after   any   more   than   before 
their  Fall.     But  you  will  fay  you  muft  allow  of 
the  appearances  of  Good  Angels,  becaufe  of  the 
Scripture  teftimony  ;  but  not  of  bad,  feeing  there 
is   no   place   of   Scripture  that   clearly  proves  it. 
Mat.  4.  The  words  in  the  Gofpel  do  as  plainly 
lignifie    the    Devils   outward  appearance    to   our 
Saviour,  when   he   was   tempted,   as  can   be  ex- 
prefs'd,  and  when  the  tempter  came  to  him  he  f aid — 
but  he  anfwered — the  fame  form  St.  Luke  ufeth 
to  fignifie  the  appearance  of  Mofes  and  Elias^  in 
the  transfiguration.  And  behold  there  talked  with 
him  two  men :  for  what  follows,  ver.  3 1 ,  who  ap- 
peared is   ufed   to   fignifie  (not   their  appearance, 
but)   the    manner    of  their   appearance-  in  great 
Glory.     But  you'l  urge  that  'tis  very  eafie  to  be 
underftood,  that  Mofes  and  Elias  did  appear,  be- 
caufe they  had  human  bodies  ;  but  that  it  is  unin- 
telligible to   you,  how  the   Devil  being  a  Spirit 
can  appear,  a  Spirit,  /.  e.  a  fubftance  void  of  all 


[67]     A  Letter  about  Witchcraft.        165 

dimenfions;    therefore    the    words    in    [67]    the 
Hiftory    muft   not    be   taken  in   a    hteral   Senle. 
Do  not  miftake;   tho  fome  Philofophers  are  of 
opinion  (which  whether  true  or  falfe,  is  all  one 
to  our  prefent  Argument)  that  a  Spirits  fubftance 
is  extended,  and  hath  befides  length,  breadth  and 
depth,  a  fourth  dimenfion,  vix.  effential  fpiffitude ; 
yet  the   fame  do   not  fay,  that   pure   fubftance  is 
perceptible  by  our  bodily  fenfes  ;  on  the  contrary, 
they  tell  us,  that  Spirits  are  cloathed  with  vehi- 
cles, /.  e.    they  are   united  to  certain  portions  of 
matter,  which   they  inform,  move   and   aftuate. 
Now  this  we  muft  not  rejed  as  impoffible,  be- 
caufe  we  cannot  comprehend  the  formal  reafon, 
how  a  Spirit  afts  upon  matter  :   For  who  can  give 
the  Reafon,  that  upon  the  VoUtion  of  the  human 
Soul,  the  Hand  fhould  be  lifted  up,  or  any  ways 
moved  ?  for  to  fay  the  Contradtion  of  the  Muf- 
cles  is  the  Mechanick  caufe  of  voluntary  motion, 
is  not  to  folve  the  Queftion  which  recurs,  why 
upon    Volition    fhould    that    Contradion    enfue 
which  caufes  that  motion  ?  all  that  I  know  the 
wifeft  Man  ever  faid  upon  this  head,  is,  that  it  is 
the  will  of  the  Creator  ;   who  hath  ordered  fuch  a 
fpecies  of  thinking  Creatures,  by  a  Catholick  Law 
to  be   united  to   fuch  portions  of  matter,  fo  and 
fo  difpofed,  or,  if  you  will  in  the  vulgar  Phrafe, 
to    Organiz'd   bodies,  and   that   there    fhould   be 
between   them   and   the  feveral  bodies,  they  are 
united  to,  a  mutual  re-a6tion  and  pafTion :      Now 
you  fee  how  little  we  know  of  the  reafon,  of  that 


1 66       A  Letter  about  Witchcraft,      [67] 

which  is  mofl  near  to  us,  and  moft  certain,  i;/2;. 
The  Souls  informing  the  Body,  yet  you  would 
think  it  a  bad  Argument,  if  one  fhould,  as  fome 
have  done,  include  from  this  our  Ignorance,  that 
there  was  nothing  in  us  but  matter,  it  is  no  other- 
ways  to  deny  a  Spirits  acting  a  Vehicle.  The 
plaineft  and  moft  certain  things  when  denied  are 
hardeft  to  be  proved,  therefore  the  Axiom  faith 
well,  contra  principa,  &c.  There  are  fome  cer- 
tain truths  which  are  rather  to  be  explained  to 
young  beginners  than  proved,  upon  which  yet  all 
Science  is  built,  as  every  whole  is  more  than  his 
part,  and  of  this  fort  I  take  thefe  two  following. 
I .  That  there  are  two  fubftances,  Corpus  &  Mens, 
Body  and  Spirit,  altogether  different,  for  the  Ideas 
we  have  of  them  are  quite  diftindt.  2.  That  a 
Spirit  can  Actuate,  Animate,  or  inform  a  certain 
portion  of  matter,  and  be  united  to  it :  from 
whence  it  is  very  evident,  that  the  Devil  united 
to  a  portion  of  matter  (which  hereafter  I'll  call  a 
Vehicle)  may  fall  under  the  cognizance  of  our 
.Senfes,  and  be  converfant  with  us  in  a  bodily 
fhape.  Where  then  is  the  reafon  or  need  to  run 
to  a  Metaphorical,  and  forced  Interpretation, 
when  the  words  are  fo  plain,  and  the  literal  fenfe 
implieth  no  contradid:ion,  nor  any  greater  diffi- 
culty than  (as  has  been  faid)  what  arifeth  from 
the  Union  of  the  Soul  and  Body,  which  is  moft 
certain.  Now  after  all  to  fay,  God  wi/I  not  per- 
mit the  Devil  fo  to  appear,  is  to  beg  the  queftion 
without  faying  any  thing  to  the  preceeding  Ar- 


[68]      A  Letter  about  Witchcraft.       167 

gument,  and  it  is  againft  the  fenfe  of  almoft  all 
mankind;  [68]  for  in  all  Ages,  and  all  places 
there  have  been  many  WitnelTes  of  the  appear- 
ances of  Dcemons^  all  of  whom  that  taught  any 
thing  contrary  to  the  right  Worfhip  of  the  true 
God,  were  certainly  evil  ones :  and  it  were  moft 
prefumptuous,  barely  to  alTert  that  all  thefe  wit- 
nelTes  were  always  deceived,  and  it  is  impofTible 
they  could  all  agree  to  deceive.  2.  We  come  to 
confider  the  nature  of  PolTeffion.  The  Man 
polTeft,  Luk.  viii.  27.  had  a  Power  more  than 
Natural,  for  he  break  the  bands,  which  he  could 
not  have  done  by  his  own  ftrength  :  Now  from 
whom  had  he  this  Power  ?  The  Scripture  faith, 
he  had  Devils  along  time,  and  oftentimes  it  had 
caught  him,  &c.  he  was  kept  bound  with  Chains 
and  in  Fetters,  and  he  break  the  bands,  and  was 
driven  of  the  Devil  into  the  Wildernefs ;  this 
Power  then  was  immediately  from  the  Devil, 
and  whatfoever  poiTelTed  perfons  does,  or  fuflers 
things  beyond  his  natural  power ;  he  is  inabled 
by  the  Dcemon  fo  to  do  :  or  to  fpeak  more  pro- 
perly, it  is  the  Daemon  who  a6teth  the  fame,  as  is 
plain  from  St.  Mark's  Relation  of  this  paiTage,  v. 

5.  2.  A  Man  with  an  unclean  Spirit,  v.  3.  2. 
and  no  Man  could  bind  him,  no,  not  with  Chains, 

6.  V.  but  when  he  faw  Jefus  afar  off  he  ran  and 
worfhiped  him,  and  the  fame  He.  v.  7.  faid  I 
adjure  thee  by  God  that  thou  torment  me  not, 
and  V.  10.  My  name  is  Legion,  for  we  are  many, 
1;.  1 1 .  and  he  befought  him  much,  that  he  would 


1 68      A  Letter  about  Witchcraft.      [68] 

not  fend  them  away  out  of  the  Countrey :  it  is 
manifeft  from  hence,  that  it  was  not  the  poor 
Man  who  was  pofTeft,  but  the  Devils  who  pof- 
feffed  him,  by  whom  the  Chains  had  been  pluck'd 
afunder,  and  the  Fetters  broken  in  pieces ;  now 
here  is  Divine  teftimony,  that  the  Devils  have 
actuated  a  Humane  body  to  the  doing  of  things 
beyond  the  Natural  ftrength  of  that  Body,  as  it 
was  fimply  united  to  its  humane  Soul ;  how  much 
more  then  can  the  Devil  actuate  any  other  pro- 
portion of  fimple  Matter,  Earth,  Air,  Fire  or 
Water ;  and  make  it  a  lit  organ  for  himfelf  to 

adt  in. 

But  enough  of  this  already,  let  us  rather  enquire 
how  the  Devil  enters  into  the  body  of  the  pojfejit,  to 
move  it  at  his  pleafure ;  this  I  think  he  cannot  do 
as  a  meer  Spirit,  or  by  any  never  fo  JiriB  Union 
with  the  Humane  Soul,  for  in  that  cafe  he  is  only  a 
tempter    or  feducer ;    and  nothing    above    humane 
Jirength   can  be  done :  But   here  there   being  fofne- 
thing  performed  [the  bonds  broken)  by  a  force  which 
could  not  proceed  fro?n  humane  Jirength,  it  necejfarily 
follows  that  the  Devils  entered  into  the  pojfejl,  other- 
ways  qualified  than  as  a  meer  Spirit,  he  did  not  enter 
without  fome  portion  of  matter,  to  which  he  was 
united  by  the  Intermedium  whereof  he  aBed  upon 
and  actuated  the  humane  body.     Again  if  it  is  f aid 
that  the  Devil  entered  as  a  meer  Spirit,  and  if?ime- 
diately  aBed  upon  and  moved  that  body ;  it  follows 
the  Devil  hath  a  Vehicle,  a  certain  portion  of  7nat- 
ter  (that  Body)  to  aBuate  and  difpofe  of  at  will; 


[69]        A  Letter  about  Witchcraft.      169 

which  is  abfurd.  i.  Becaufe  it  offer ts  what  it 
feems  to  deny,  viz.  the  Devils  having  a  Vehicle  to 
a£i  immediately  upon,  and  to  be  united  to  a  portion 
of  matter  [as  [69]  has  been  f aid  before)  is  the  fame 
thing.  2.  It  fights  againft  the  Cat  ho  lick  Law  of 
the  Union  of  Soul  and  Body,  by  which  the  Omnipo- 
tent hath  ordained  the  voluntary  f?iotion  of  a  humane 
body  to  depend  upon  the  Will  of  its  humane  Soul,  and 
thofe  that  are  not  voluntary  to  proceed  either  from 
its  own  Mechanifon,  or  from  material  force,  hence 
we  may  certainly  conclude,  that  it  is  by  the  Inter- 
vening of  the  Devils  Vehicle,  that  he  enters  into  the 
Body  of  the  poffefi.  But  what  if  you  and  I  cannot 
agree  about  this  Notion  of  Pojfeffion,  muft  we  there- 
fore rejeB  the  truth  it f elf,  and  run  to  a  far  fetched 
and  intolerable  fenfe  of  the  words:  No,  our  opinions 
do  not  alter  the  Nature  of  things,  it  is  certain  there 
were  perfons  pojfefl,  and  it  is  as  certain  that  the 
Devil  enteed  itito  them,  either  with  or  without  a 
Vehicle,  it  is  all  one  which  part  of  the  contradiBion 
you  take,  the  confequence  is  the  fame,  viz. 

That  the  Devil  doth  aB  imtnediately  upon  matter, 
there  is  another  acceptation  of  the  word  pojfeffion  in 
Scripture,  ABs  xvi.  16,  where  one  is  faid  to  be 
pofiefi  with  a  Spirit  of  Divination,  [nvsv^a  Hv'^qvoc,) 
the  word  cotnmonly  ufed  to  the  Priefiefs  of  Apollo, 
who  gave  refponfes ;  and  it  feems  this  Damfel  was 
fuch  an  one,  for  Jlie  brought  her  Mafiers  much  Mo- 
ney, or  gain  by  foothfaying.  Now  if  the  Hifiory  of 
chem  be  true  that  they  were  demented,  and  k?iew 
not  themfelves  what  they  uttered,  donee  erant  Deo 


lyo       A  Letter  about  Witchcraft,       [69] 

plenae,  [as  they  word  if)  their  cafe  is  not  different^ 
but  the  fame  with  the  foregoing ;  but  if  they  under - 
food  what  they  f poke,  then  had  they  familiar  Spirits, 
whereof  there  is  frequent  mention  made  in  the  Old 
Tefamenty  and  one  good  King  is  commended  for  hav- 
ing cut  off  them  that   had  fuch,  therefore  I  think 
the  meaning  of  the  word  was  very  obvious  in  his 
time,  neither  was  it  ever  controverted,  being  joyned 
with  any  other  name  than  fpirit  Familiar,  one  of  our 
own  Family,  that  is  oft,  every  day  converfant  with 
us,  and  almof  ever  ready  upon  call  to   attend  us. 
But   the  confderation   of  them,  who  have  familiar 
Spirits   falleth    under    the    head    of    Witchcraft, 
which   we   are  to  'confder  in   the   third  place.      3. 
Witchcraft,  to  inquire  into  the  Scripture  Notion  of 
it,  and  compare  whether  it  be  the  fame  with  that 
above  defined;  the  Cabaliflick  learning  would  be'  of 
great  ufe  in  this  fearch,  and  afford  us  jnuch  light ; 
there  is  little  doubt  but  that  there  are  ma?iy  great 
truths  not  commonly  known.     (Non  eft  Religio  ubi 
omnia  patent.)      And  our  Saviour  expreffy  cautiofis 
his  Difciples  that  they  do  not  throw  their  Pearl  be- 
fore Swine ;    therefore    it   is  no   wonder  that  fo?7ie 
DoBrines,  tho'  unquejlionahly  true  are  not  fo  fully 
defcribed,  becaife  the  Authors  who   treat  of  them 
are  afraid,  left  evil  Men  jhould  be  the  jnore.  depraved 
by  being  informed;  but  I  am  in  no  fuch  fear ;  nor 
can  I  give  you  any  other  thoughts  but  what  are  ob- 
vious to  any  Man,  from  the  plain  feiife  of  the  Scrip 
ture.      Our  defnitiofi  we' I  divide  into  two  Propofi- 
tions,  and  handle  them  fever  ally.      1.    Propofition. 


[70]      A  Letter  about  Witchcraft,       i^^ji 

The  Witch  is  impower'd  by  the  Devil  to  do  things 
Jirange  in  them/elves,  and  bejide  their  natural  courfe. 
2.  Prop.  The  ?nanner  how  the  Witch  is  impowered 
to  do  thofe  Jirange  things,  is  by  Explicit  Com-\yo\ 
paB,  or  Covenant  with  the  Devil.  For  clearing  of 
the  fir Ji,  we  will  confider  the  four  places  above  cited, 
wherein  .a  Witch  is  called  a  falfe  Prophet,  afalfe 
Chrifi,  a  Sorcerer,  a  reffler  of  the  truth,  and  is 
faid  to  fhew  figns  to  f educe  the  People  to  feek  after 
other  Gods :  whence  let  us  note,  3  things,  i .  That 
thofe  terms  Witch,  falfe  Chrift,  falfe  Prophet,  and 
Sorcerer,  are  all  Synonimous ;  i.  e.Jignifie  the  fame 
thing.  2.  That  a  Witch  doth  do  things  fir ange  in 
themf elves,  and  beyond  their  Natural  courfe :  for  it 
were  mofi  ridiculous,  to  alledge  that  our  blejfed 
Saviour,  when  he  faid,  there  fhall  arife  falfe  Chrifts, 
and  fhall  fhew  great  figns  and  wonders,  in  fo 
much  that  (if  it  were  pofRble)  they  fhould  de- 
ceive the  very  Eled;  meant  that  cunning  cheats 
Jhould  arife  andjhew  Legerdemain  tricks ;  the  words 
will  in  no  wife  bear  it,  and  I  believe  you  are  from 
interpreting  them,  fo  it  is  manifefl,  they  fgnifie  not 
a  feign  d,  but  a  real  doing  of  things,  bey  ond  their 
Natural  courfe ;  therefore  the  Sorceries  of  Elimas^^ 
and  Simon  were  not  fmple  delufions,  but  real  effeBs 
that  could  not  have  been  produced  by  Phyfcal  caufes 
in  the  ordinary  courfe  of  nature.  3.  That  the  end 
of  the  Witches  Jhewing  t he fe  figns,  is  to  f educe  the 
People  to  feek  after  other  Gods,  from  which  premifes 

89  See  Remarkable  Providences,  128,  by  Dr.  I.  Mather. 

Bb 


172     A  Letter  about  Witchcraft.       [70] 

/  infer,  that  the  Witches  have  the  power  of  doing 
thofe  wonders,  or  f  range  things  immediately  from 
the  Devil:  they  are  without  the  reach  of  Nature, 
and  therefore  above  humane  power,  and  no  meer  Man 
can  effeB  them ;  the  Witch  then  who  does  them  muji 
have  the  power  of  doiftg  the?n  from  another ;  but 
who  is  the  other  ?  God  will  not  give  his  tejiimony 
to  a  lye,  and  to  fay  God  did  at  any  time  impower  a 
Witch  to  work  wonders  to  gain  belief  to  the  Doc- 
trine of  Devils  were  with  one  breath  to  dejiroy  root 
and  branch  of  all  revealed  Religiofi ;  no,  it  cannot 
be,  it  is  only  God's  permijjion,  who  proveth  his  Peo- 
ple, whether  they  love  him  with  all  their  heart,  and 
with  all  their  Soul.  Therefore  the  Witch  has  a 
power  of  doing  Wonders,  or  Jirange  things  immedi- 
ately fro?7i  the  Devil.  2.  Propoft.  we'll  fubdivide 
into  thefe  two.  i .  That  there  is  an  exprefs  Cove- 
nant between  the  Witch  and  the  Devil.  2.  That 
^tis  not  reafonable  to  fuppofe  this  Covenant  to  be 
tranfaBed  mentally,  i .  The  Devil  cannot  commu- 
nicate this  power,  by  never  fo  JiriB  a  XJtiion  with 
the  Soul  of  the  Witch ;  for  in  that  cafe  he  is  only  a 
tempter,  and  nothing  above  humane  power  can  be 
done,  as  has  been  already  proved;  therefore  the  Devil 
who  improves  the  Witch  to  do  things  above  humane 
power,  muji  either  appear  in  an  Exterfial  fiape,  and 
inftruB  him  how,  and  upon  what  terms  he  will  ifiable 
him  to  do  thofe  Wonders ;  or  elfe  he  muJl  enter  into 
the  body  of  the  Witch  a?idpoJ/efs  it.  The  Demoniacs 
in  the  Gofpel  are  fuch  whom  the  Devils  invade,  by 
main  force,  their  Soul  having  no  further  conwiand 


[71]      A  Letter  about  Witchcraft.       173 

of  their  bodies ,  which  are  fiibjeBed  to  the  Will  of  the 
Devils;  whofe  end  is  to  wound  and  torment  thofe 
miferable  Creatures,  to  throw  them  into  the  fire,  and 
into  the  water ;  but  the  Witch,  i^ho  likewife  is  pof- 
feffedf  is  not  treated  in  fuch  an  outrageous  fna?iner, 
his  Daemon  is  tame  and  familiar  unto  him,  andfuf- 
fers  him  for  \j\\  a  time  to  live  quietly,  without  any 
further  moleftation,  then  prompting  him  to  do  his 
utjjioji  endeavour  to  withdraw  Men  from  God ;  he  is 
not  bereaved  of  his  Senfes  as  the  poor  lunatick,  but  is 
confcious  of  all  he  does,  and  willeth  ail  his  crimes,  he 
receiveth  power  from  the  Devil  to  do  wonders,  and 
doth  them  to  ferve  the  Devils  turn,  'Therefore  there 
mufl  be  a  Covenant,  an  exprefs  Covenant  between  the 
Devil  and  him,  viz.  that  he  fliall  obey  the  Devil  and 
ferve  him,  and  that  the  Devil  Jhall  both  enable  him 
fo  to  do,  and  alfo  reward  him  for  fo  doing ;  for  if 
there  is  no  contraB  between  them.  How  comes  the 
Witch  to  know  he  has  afupernatural power?  or  how 
can  he  fo  peremptorily  pretend  to  do  that  which  is  fo 
much  above  his  natural  power,  not  knowing  he  has  a 
fupernatural  one  inabling  him  to  do  the  fame  :  There 
can  be  no  doubt  but  there  was  a  very  intimate  com- 
merce between  Satan  and  him ;  who  is  calPd  by  St, 
Paul  thou  child  of  the  Devil  {not  as  other  unholy 
men)  but  in  an  efpecial  manner,  as  being  the  Enemy 
of  all  righteoufnefs,  who  would  not  ceafe  to  pervert 
the  right  ways  of  the  Lord,  it  is  not  to  be  fuppofed 
that  he  enter* d  into  this  fo  near  a  "Relation  with  Sa- 
tan,  with  which  he  is  Jiigmatized,  that  others  may 
beware  of  him,  without  his  own  knowledge  and  con- 


174      A  Letter  about  Witchcraft.      [71] 

fent ;  and  is  not  this  a  Covenant,  an  exprefs  Cove- 
nant on  his  part  to  ferve  the  Devil  incejfantly,  and 
on  the  Devils  to  impower  him  to  aB  his  Sorceries 
wherewith  he  bewitched  the  People ;  now  I  think,  I 
have  from  Scripture  fully  fatisjied  you  of  the  truth 

of  what  I  offered,  in  a  Dtfcourfe  at but  f  nee 

you  have  told  me  an  Explicit  Covenant  with  the 
Devil,  fignifying  the  Devil's  appearing  in  a  bodily 
Jhape  to  the  Witch,  and  their  fgning  an  exprefs 
Covenant,  which  you  fay  cannot  be  proved  from 
Scripture.  It  were  moft  unreafonable  to  imagine 
that  the  ceremonies  of  this  hellijh  myflery  are  parti- 
cularly fet  down  in  the  word  of  God;  therefore  we 
mujl  gather  by  Analogy  and  Reafon  the  manner  how 
this  exprefs  Covenant  is  tranfaBed :  and  to  that 
end  Tie  fet  down  thefe  following  Conf  derations. 

I.  Under  the  Law  God  did  ordain  his  People 
in  all  their  matters  to  have  recourfe  immediately 
to  himfelf,  and  depend  upon  him  for  Counlil, 
which  they  were  ready  to  obey,  with  full  alTur- 
ance  of  aid  and  proteftion  from  him  againft  their 
Enemies ;  this  the  Devil  imitateth  by  setting  up 
of  Oracles  among  the  Heathen,  to  which  all 
the  Kings,  Nations,  and  mighty  Conquerors, 
upon  Earth  did  come,  and  paid  their  humbleft 
adoration  to  the  God  (as  the  Devil  blafphemoufly 
call'd  himfelf)  of  the  Temple,  in  which  they 
were  imploring  his  direction  and  affiftance  in 
their  doubtful  and  profperous  affairs.  Again, 
God  inftituted  Sacrifices  to  put  Men  in  mind  of 
their  duty  to  their  Creator,  to  whom  they  owe 


[72]      A  Letter  about  Witchcraft,       175 

all  things,  even  themfelves  ;  but  the  Devil  is  not 
contented  with  the  bare  imitation  hereof;  the 
acknowledgment  and  worfhip  he  receiveth  from 
the  deluded  World  is  not  enough,  tho'  they  offer 
up  unto  him  innumerable  Hecatombs,  unlefs  they 
caufe  their  Children  to  pafs  through  the  [72]  fire 
unto  him,  to  whom  no  Sacrifice  is  fo  well  pleafing 
as  that  of  humane  blood.  And  there  is  no  reafon 
to  think,  that  now  under  the  CEconomy  of  the 
Gofpel,  the  Devil  hath  left  off  to  vie  with  God, 
and  thereby  to  enfnare  Men.  No,  it  is  rather  to 
be  feared  that  his  Kingdom  doth  now  more  pre- 
vail, for  by  how  much  the  light  is  greater ;  fo 
much  greater  is  their  condemnation,  who  do  not 
receive  it :  it  is  reafonable  to  fuppofe  that  (seeing 
the  Son  of  God,  when  he  came  to  tranfad:  with 
Men,  the  wonderful  Covenant  of  their  Redemp- 
tion, took  upon  him  their  Nature,  and  was  per- 
fect Man)  the  Devil  likewife  doth  counterfeit 
the  fame,  in  appearing  in  an  humane  fhape  to 
them,  who  receive  him,  and  confederate  them- 
felves with  him,  and  become  his  VafTals. 

2.  Confider,  It  is  not  probable  that  thofe  falfe 
Apoflles  mention'd,  2  Cor.  xi.  13.  erred  only  in 
Ceremonies  or  Circumflances,  or  that  their  Er- 
rors, tho'  great,  did  proceed  rather  from  their 
Ignorance,  than  from  the  perverfenefs  of  their 
minds,  i  Cor.  iii.  15.  For,  for  fuch  we  may 
have  charity  and  hope,  that  God  will  be  merci- 
ful unto  them,  if  they  fincerely  do  the  beft  they 
know,  tho'  they  diffent  in  fome,  nay  many  things, 


176      A  Letter  about  Witchcraft,      [72] 

from  the  praftices  and  belief  of  the  Chriftian 
Church ;  but  thofe  St.  Paid  threatens  with  a 
heavy  curfe,  that  their  end  fhall  be  according  to 
their  works  ;  therefore  it  feems  they  immediately 
ftruck  at  the  very  root  and  being  of  the  Chriftian 
Religion,  and  were  the  fame  with  them  fpoken 
of,  2  Tim.  iii.  6.  but  with  this  difference,  that 
they  did  not  refift,  but  beholding  the  Miracles 
and  Signs  which  were  done  by  the  true  Apoftle 
of  our  Lord,  wondered  and  believed  alfo,  and 
were  Baptized  ;  yet  being  Sorcerers  they  were 
unwilling  to  lofe  that  great  efteem  they  had  ob- 
tained;  as  "it  is  related  of  aS//;?(?;2,  who  had  be- 
witched the  People  of  Samaria,  giving  out  that 
he  himfelf  was  fome  great  one,  to  whom  they  all 
gave  heed,  from  the  leaft  to  the  greateft,  faying, 
this  Man  is  the  great  Power  of  God,  therefore 
he  could  not  brook  that  Peter  or  yohji  fhouid 
have  a  greater  Power  than  himfelf;  but  offered 
them  Money,  that  on  whomfoever  he  laid  hands, 
he  (that  perfon)  fhouid  receive  the  Holy  Ghoft ; 
which  fhews  him,  who  thus  defigned  to  make 
Merchandize  of  the  B.  Spirit,  tho'  Baptized,  to 
have  been  no  true  believer,  but  ftill  a  Sorcerer  in 
the  Gall  of  bitternefs,  and  in  the  bond  of  Ini- 
quity ;  fuch  were  thofe  deceitful  workers,  who 
not  being  able  barefaced  to  relift,  did  put  on 
Chriftianity  as  a  Mafk,  that  they  might  under- 
mine the  truth,  and  introduce  the  Dodlrines  of 
Devils.  Samaria  and  Paphos,  were  not  the  only 
two  places  where  the  Devil  had  fuch  Agents, 


[73]      A  Letter  about  IFitchcraft.       177 

there  was  no  part  of  the  Earth  where  his  King- 
dom was  not  Eftablifhed,  and  where  he  had  not 
his  EmilTaries  before  the  preaching  of  the  Gof- 
pel ;  and  fmce  the  Text  telleth  us  he  hath  his 
Minifters,  who  do  imitate  their  Mailer,  by  being 
transformed  into  the  Apoftles  of  Chrift,  as  he 
himfelf  is  transformed  into  an  [73]  Angel  of 
light :  whofe  defign  in  being  thus  transformed, 
cannot  be  to  impofe  upon  the  Almighty  ;  for 
whatever  fhape  he  appears  in,  he  cannot  hide  his 
uglinefs  from  the  Eyes  of  him  who  is  Omnif- 
cent,  therefore  he  appeareth  thus  in  the  (hape  of 
an  Angel  of  light,  either  to  tempt  and  feduce  the 
bleffed  Spirits  to  rebel  againft  God,  or  to  enfnare 
wicked  Men,  who  by  their  hainous  crimes  (being 
lovers  of  themfelves,  covetous,  boafters,  proud 
blafphemers)  were  before  dilpofed  to  be  fit  In- 
ftrumets  to  ferve  him  and  to  enter  into  league 
with  him.  Surely  I,  who  am  ignorant  of  the 
Laws  by  which  the  Intelledtual  World  is  gov- 
ernM,  dare  not  affirm  that  it  is  impoffible  for  Sa- 
tan fo  to  appear,  as  to  hide  his  deformities  from 
the  good  Angels,  and  under  that  vail  to  tempt 
them  :  But  certain  I  am  that  it  is  more  confonant 
to  Reafon,  to  think  that  the  Apoftles  intention 
here  was  to  teach  that  the  Devil  appear'd  as  a 
glorified  Angel  unto  Men  to  gain  Minifters, 
whom  he  might  imbue  with  the  Poyfon  of  his 
Black- Art,  and  fwhen  he  had  gotten  full  poiTef- 
fion  of  them)  inftrudt  them  by  his  own  Example 
to    transform    themfelves    into    the    Apoftles    of 


178       A  Letter  about  Witchcraft,       [73] 

Chrift,  that  under  that  Vizard  they  might  with 
the  greater  Advantage  promote  his  ends,  and 
join  with  him  in  doing  the  utmoft  defpite  to  the 
Spirit  of  Grace. 

3.  Confideration,  It  is  againft  the  Nature  of 
this  Covenant,  that  it  fhould  be  confummated  by 
a  mental  Colloquy,  between  the  Devil  and  the 
Witch.  I  know  not  how  many  Articles  it  con- 
fifts  of,  but  it  is  certain  from  what  has  been  al- 
ready proved,  that  the  renouncing  of  Chrift  to 
be  the  Son  of  God,  and  owning  the  Devil  to  be, 
and  worfhipping  him  as  God,  are  the  two  chief, 
to  which  our  Saviour  who  was  accufed  of  cafting 
out  Devils  by  Beelzebub  (/.  e.)  of  being  confed- 
erated with  Beelzebub,  was  tempted  to  confent : 
If  thou  be  the  Son  of  God  command  that  thefe  Jlones 
be  made  bread:  And  again,  throw  thyfef  down 
from  hence,  for  it  is  written,  he  will  give  his  Angels 
charge  over  thee ;  and  again  all  thefe  things  will  I 
give  thee,  if  thou  wilt  fall  down  and  worjhip  me  : 
Whence  it  is  evident  that  here  the  Devil  La- 
boured to  inlinuate  into  our  Lord,  either  to  do 
things  rafh  and  unwarrantable,  or  to  fufped:  his 
Sonfhip,  revolt  from  God  his  father,  and  worfhip 
Satan,  that  he  might  obtain  the  glory  of  the 
World.  Now  it  has  been  already  faid,  that  when 
Jefus  was  tempted,  the  Devil  appeared  unto  him 
in  a  bodily  fhape ;  therefore  it  is  agreeable  to 
Reafon,  that  he  doth  appear  in  the  fame  manner 
to  all  them,  whom  he  alfo  tempteth  to  worfhip 
him  ;  moreover  the  form-  of  renouncing  a  Cove- 


[74-]       A  Letter  about  Witchcraft,       179 

nant  ought  to  bear  refemblance  to  the  form  of 
entring  into  the  fame  Covenant ;  therefore  Men 
who  are  received  into  the  Myftical  Body  of  Chrift 
by  God's  Minifter,  who  in  God's  ftead  expreflly 
covenanteth  with  and  then  Adminiflereth  the 
Sacrament  of  Baptifm  unto  them,  muft  in  the 
like  manner  go  out  of,  or  renounce  the  faid  Co- 
venant ;  and  of  them  there  are  [74]  two  forts, 
one  who  through  the  perverfenefs  of  their  own 
hearts,  the  lucre  of  the  world,  the  fear  of  Men 
more  than  of  God,  abjure  their  Saviour,  turn 
Apoftates,  Turks,  or  Pagans ;  The  other  fort  is 
of  them  who  do  contract  with  the  Devil  to  be 
his  Subjedis,  in  the  imitation  of  whom,  it  is  not 
to  be  fuppofed  that  the  Devil  will  omit  any  ma- 
terial Circumftances,  which  tend  both  to  bring 
them  into  and  confirm  them  in  his  Service.  To 
effecft  which  his  outv/ard  appearance,  when  he 
receives  his  Catechumens  is  of  greater  force  than 
any  mental  contract,  for  many  wicked  men  who 
have  denied  God  and  Chrift  not  only  in  their 
pracftice,  but  alfo  blafphemoully  in  profeffion,  yet 
have  repented,  and  at  lafl  obtained  fome  hope  of 
mercy  ;  I  dare  not  fay  it  is  impoffible  for  a  Witch 
to  repent  and  find  mercy,  the  fecrets  of  the  Al- 
mighty are  too  high  for  me ;  but  it  is  certain, 
thefe  wretches  are  ftrangely  hardned,  by  what 
palTes  between  them  and  the  Devil,  in  a  bodily 
fhape,  particularly  their  worlhipping  him,  which 
necelTarily  implies  his  outward  appearance  unto 
them  ;  for  no  man  can  apete  Evil  as  Evil,  becaufe 
Cc 


i8o      A  hetter  about  Witchcraft,       [74] 

the  Law  of  felf-prefervation  deeply  rooted  in  all 
men,  determineth  their  wills  to  purfue  that  which 
feems  good,  and  fly  from  that  which  feems  evil 
unto  them,  but  the  inbred  notions  that  every  man 
has  of  the  Devil,  is  that  he  is  an  Enemy  and  deftroyer 
of  mankind,  therefore  every  man" hath  a  Natural 
averfion  from  him,  and  confequently  cannot  for- 
mally worfhip  him  as  fuch,  becaufe  the  object 
of  worfhip  muft  be  efteemed  to  be  propitious 
and  placable  by  the  worfhippers,  otherwife  if  fear 
alone  be  the  adequate  caufe  of  Adoration,  it  fol- 
lows that  the  Devils  and  damned  in  Hell  do 
worfhip  God,  which  is  contrary  to  Scripture, 
which  faith  they  blafphemed,  becaufe  of  their 
pains,  whence  it  follows  that  they  who  worfhip 
the  Devil  muft  have  changed  the  innate  Idea  that 
they  had  of  him,  viz.  that  he  is  an  implacable 
Worrier  of  Men,  and  take  him  to  be  benign  at  leafl 
to  his  own  ;  but  this  change  cannot  be  wrought 
by  any  fuggeftion  of  Satan  unto  the  minds  of 
Men,  whom  indeed  he  mentally  tempteth  to 
Lufl,  Pride  and  Malice ;  but  it  is  his  greatefl 
Artifice  to  caufe  his  Infinuations  to  arife  in  the 
hearts  of  Men,  as  their  own  natural  thoughts, 
and  if  confcience  difcovers  their  Author  and  op- 
pofes  them,  then  he  varnifhes  them  over  with 
the  fpecious  colours  of  pleafure,  honour  and 
glory ;  and  fo  reprefents  them  as  really  good,  to 
be  willed  and  defired  by  the  Soul,  which  judgeth 
of  all  things  without  according  to  the  Ideas  flie 
hath  of  them  ;    but   becaufe   mofl   obje6ts   have 


[75]       A  Letter  about  Witchcraft,       181 

two,  and  fome  many  faces,  and  flie  not  always 
attends,  therefore  fhe  often  errs  in  her  choice, 
neverthelefs  it  is  impoffible  for  her  to  apete  an 
objed:,  whofe  limple  Idea  is  Evil ;  but  the  Idea 
we  have  of  the  Devil  is  fuch,  for  we  cannot  rep- 
refent  him  in  our  minds  any  otherwife  than  the 
great'  deftroyer  of  Men,  therefore  no  mental 
temptation  can  make  us  believe  this  our  grand 
Enemy  to  be  [75]  ever  Exorable  by,  or  in  any 
meafure  favourable  to  us,  whence  it  evidently 
follows,  that  the  Devil  to  work  this  change  of 
opinion  his  worfhippers  have  of  him,  muft  ap- 
pear unto  them  in  a  bodily  fhape,  and  impofe 
upon  them,  whom  becaufe  of  their  great  Corrup- 
tion and  Sinfulnefs,  God  hath  wholly  left  and 
given  up  [to]  ftrong  delufions  that  they  (hould 
believe  a  lye,  and  the  Father  of  lyes ;  who  now 
appearing  in  a  humane  fhape,  telleth  them  that 
he  is  no  fuch  Monfter,  as  he  has  been  reprefented 
to  them  by  his  Enemy,  who  calls  himfelf  God, 
which  Title  of  right  belongs  to  him,  and  that 
he  (if  they  contrad;  to  be  his  Servants)  will  both 
amply  reward  them  by  giving  them  power  to  do 
many  things  very  fuitable  to  their  abominable  de- 
praved Nature,  that  the  Chriftians,  whatever  opin- 
ion they  may  pretend  to  have  of  their  God,  cannot 
fo  much  as  pretend  to,  and  alfo  that  he  will  proted; 
and  defend  them  againft  him,  whom  heretofore 
they  have  miftaken  for  the  Almighty,  and  his  pre- 
tended Son  Chrift,  whom  they  muft  abjure  ere 
they  can  be  received  by  or  exped  any  benefit  from 


1 82       A  Letter  about  Witchcraft.       [75] 

him.  Upon  no  other  conlideration  is  it  poffible 
for  any  man  to  worfhip  the  Devil ;  for  the  Athe- 
ifts,  who  deny  the  being  of  a  God,  do  likewife 
deny  the  exiftence  of  any  Spirit  good  or  bad  ; 
therefore  their  drinking  the  Devils  health,  even 
upon  their  knees  (tho'  a  moft  horrid  Crime)  can- 
not be  conftrued  any  part  of  worfhip  paid  to  him, 
whom  they  afTert  to  be  a  Chimera,  a  meer  figment 
of  Statefmen  to  keep  the  vulgar  in  awe.  Now  I 
have  evinced  to  you  that  there  are  Witches,  that 
the  Witch  receiveth  power  from  the  Devil  to  do 
flrange  things,  that  there  is  an  exprefs  Covenant 
between  the  Devil  and  the  Witch,  that  this  Cov- 
enant cannot  be  tranfadled  mentally,  but  that  the 
Devil  muft  appear  in  a  bodily  fhape  to  the  Witch ; 
therefor^  I  conclude,  that  a  Witch  in  the  Scrip- 
ture is  fuch,  who  has  made  an  Explicit  Covenant 
with  the  Devil,  and  is  impowered  by  him  to  do 
things  ftrange  in  themfelves,  and  befide  their 
natural  courfe. 

2.  I  perfwade  myfelf  you  do  not  expert  from 
me  any  Eflay  concerning  the  methods,  how 
Witches  may  or  ought  to  be  convinced ;  I  wifh 
that  thofe  Gentlemen,  whofe  Eminent  ftation 
both  inables  them  to  perform  it,  and  likewife 
makes  it  their  duty  fo  to  do,  may  take  this  Pro- 
vince upon  them,  and  handle  it  fo  fully  as  to  fat- 
isfie  you  herein.  I  once  intended  to  have  provided 
fome  materials  for  this  Work,  by  defining  four 
principal  things  relating  to  Witchcraft,  viz.  i. 
Witch-fits.     2.  The  Imps  that  are  faid  to  attend 


[76]       A  Letter  about  Witchcraft,       183 

on  the  Witch.  3.  The  tranfportation  of  the 
Witch  through  the  Air.  4.  Laftly,  the  invifibi- 
lity  of  the  Witch;  but  upon  fecond  thoughts 
that  it  was  foreign  from  my  purpofe,  who  am  not 
concerned  to  compofe  a  juft  Treatife  of  Witch- 
craft, which  would  require  more  vacant  time, 
than  my  prefent  Circumftances  will  allow,  only  I 
did  promife  you  to  give  you  my  Opinion  pri- 
vately ;  therefore  Fie  [76]  venture  to  make  ufe 
of  an  Argument,  which  fheweth  neither  Art  nor 
Learning  in  the  Author,  and  it  is  this,  that  feeing 
there  are  Witches,  and  that  the  Law  of  God 
doth  command  them  to  be  put  to  death ;  there- 
fore there  mull  be  means  to  convid  them,  by 
clear  and  certain  Proof,  otherwife  the  Law  were 
in  vain ;  for  no  Man  can  be  juftly  condemned, 
who  is  not  fairly  convicted  by  full  and  certain 
Evidence. 

in.  In  the  laft  place  we  are  to  inquire  whether 
a  Witch  ought  to  be  put  to  death  or  no  ?  you 
Anfwer  in  the  Negative ;  becaufe  you  fay  that  that 
Law,  thou  fhalt  not  fuffer  a  Witch  to  live,  is  Ju- 
dicial,  and  extendeth  only  to  the  People  of  the 
Jews ;  but  our  Saviour,  or  his  Apoflles  have  not 
delivered  any  where  any  fuch  command,  therefore 
they  ought  to  be  fuffer ed  to  live,  this  indeed 
feems  fomewhat  plaufible  at  firfl  view,  but  upon 
through  Examination  hath  no  weight  in  it  at  all 
for  thefe  Reafons,  i.  All  Penal  Laws  receive 
their  Sandtion  from  him  or  them,  who  have  the 
Sovereign  -Power  in  any  ftate,  as  thou  ihalt  not 


184      A  Letter  about  Witchcraft.       [76] 

commit  Adultery,  is  a  Moral-law,  and  obligatory 
ofver  the  Confciences  of  Men  in  all  places  and 
Ages ;  but  the  Adulterers  fhall  be  put  to  death  is 
a  judicial  law,  and  in  force  only  in  that  ftate, 
where  it  is  enadted  by  the  Sovereign.  2.  The 
Government  of  the  Jews  was  a  Theocracy,  and 
God  himfelf  did  condefcend  to  be  their  King, 
not  only  as  he  is  King  of  Kings ;  for  in  that 
fenfe  he  is,  always  was,  and  ever  will  be  fupreme 
Lord,  and  Governour  of  all  his  Creatures ;  but  in 
an  efpecial  manner  to  give  them  Laws  for  the 
Government  of  their  State,  and  to  prote6l  them 
againft  their  Enemies ;  in  one  word  to  be  imme- 
diately their  Sovereign.  3.  Our  Saviour's  King- 
dom was  not  of  this  World,  he  was  no  Judge  to 
divide  fo  much  as  an  Inheritance  between  two 
Brethren  ;  nay,  he  himfelf  fubmitted  patiently  to 
the  unjuft  Sentence  of  the  Governour  of  the 
Country  in  which  he  lived ;  therefore  both  the 
rewards  and  punifhments  annexed  to  his  Laws  are 
Spiritual,  and  then  fhall  have  their  full  accom- 
plifhment,  when  the  Son  of  Man  at  the  lafl  day 
fhall  pronounce.  Come  unto  me  ye  blejfed,  and  depart 
ye  curfed  into  Ever lajiingjire.  4.  That  Soveraigns, 
who  have  received  the  Gofpel  of  our  Lord,  have 
not  therefore  lofl  their  Power  of  enad;ing  Laws 
for  the  ruling  and  preferving  their  People,  and 
punifhing  Malefactors  even  with  Death ;  fo  that 
the  Criminal  is  as  juflly  condemned  to  die  by  our 
Municipal,  as  he  was  heretofore  by  the  Judicial 
Law  among  the  Jews :     How  much  more  then 


\jy']      A  hetter  about  Witchcraft.       185 

ought  our  Law  to  advert  againft  the  higheft  of 
all  Criminals,  thofe  execrable  Men  and  Women, 
who  tho  yet  alive,  have  lifted  themfelves  under 
Satan's  banner,  and  explicitly  Sworn  Allegiance 
to  him,  to  fight  againft  God  and  Chrift ;  indeed 
all  unholy  Men  afford  great  matter  to  the  Devils 
of  Blafpheming,  but  thefe  wretches  have  confed- 
erated themfelves  with  the  Devils,  to  blafpheme 
and  deftroy  all  they  can ;  and  do  you  think  that 
thefe  common  YlJ^  Enemies  of  God  and  Man- 
kind ought  to  be  fuffered  to  live  in  a  Chriftian 
Common  wealth,  efpecially  confidering  that  we 
have  a  Prefident  of  putting  them  to  death  from 
God  himfelf,  when  he  adied  as  King  over  his 
own  peculiar  People.  But  methinks  I  hear  you 
faying,  all  this  doth  not  fatisfie  me,  for  I  am  fure 
nothing  can  be  added  to  the  Devils  malice,  and  if 
he  could,  he  certainly  would  appear  and  frighten 
all  Men  out  of  their  wits.  I  anfwer,  i.  We 
muft  not  reject  a  truth,  becaufe  we  cannot  refolve 
all  the  Queftions  that  may  be  propofed  about  it ; 
otherwife  all  our  Science  muft  be  turned  into 
Scepticifm,  for  we  have  not  a  comprehenfive 
knowledge  of  any  one  thing.  2.  When  you  fay, 
that  if  the  Devil  could,  he  would  appear  and 
frighten  all  Men ;  the  Lawful  confequence  is  not 
that  he  cannot  appear  at  all,  for  we  have  un- 
doubtedly proved  the  contrary ;  but  that  we  are 
Ignorant  of  the  bounds  that  the  Almighty  hath 
fet  to  him,  whofe  malice  indeed,  if  he  were  not 
reftrain'd,  is  fo  great  as  to  deftroy  all  Men ;  but 


1 86  A  Reply  to  the  [77] 

the  goodnefs  of  our  God  is  greater,  who  hath 
given  us  means  to  efcape  his  fury,  if  we  will  give 
earneft  heed  to  the  Gofpel  of  our  Saviour,  which 
only  is  able  to  comfort  us  againft  the  fad  and 
miserable  condition  of  our  prefent  Hate,  for  not 
only  the  Devils,  but  likewife  all  do  confpire 
againft  us  to  work  our  ruine.  The  deluge  came 
and  fwept  away  all  the  race  (fave  eight  perfons) 
of  mankind  :  the  Fire  will  in  time  devour  what 
the  Water  has  left,  and  all  this  cometh  to  pafs 
becaufe  of  Sin;  but  we  who  have  received  the 
Lord  Jefus,  look  for  new  Heavens,  and  a  new 
Earth,  wherein  dwelleth  Righteoufnefs.  There- 
fore he,  if  we  purifie  ourfelves  as  he  is  pure,  will 
fave  us  (for  when  he  appears  we  fhall  be  made 
like  unto  him  ;  to  whom  be  Glory  for  ever.  Amen) 
from  the  great  deftrudtion  that  muft  come  upon 
all  the  World,  and  the  Inhabitants  thereof.  Fare- 
well. 

March,  %th  169!. 

Bofton,  March  20,  1693. 
Worthy  Sir, 

THE  great  pains  you  have  taken  for  my  Infor- 
mation and  SatisfaBion  in  thofe  controverted 
points  relating  to  Witchcraft,  whether  it  attain  the 
end  or  not,  cannot  require  lefs  than  fuitable  acknow- 
ledgments and  gratitude,  efpecially  confidering  you 
had  no  particular  obligation  of  ofice  to  it,  and  when 
others,  whofe  proper  Province  it  was  had  declined  it. 
It  is  a  great  truth,  [that  the  many  Herefes  amofig 


[78]         Letter  about  Witchcraft,         187 

the  Chrijiians  (nor  the  lying  Miracles^  or  Witch- 
crafts ufed  by  fome  to  induce  to  the  worjhip  of 
Images,  &c.)  muft  not  give  a  Mortal  wound  to 
Chriftianity  or  Truth ;]  but  the  great  queftion  in 
thefe  con[yS]troverted  points  fill  is,  what  is  truth. 
And  in  this  fearch  being  agreed  in  the  fudge  or 
Rule,  there  is  great  hopes  of  the  IJfue.  That  there 
are  Witches  is  plain  from  that  Rule  of  Truth,  the 
Scriptures,  which  commands  their  punifhment  by 
Death.  But  what  that  Witchcraft  is,  or  wherein 
it  does  confji  is  the  whole  difficulty.  That  head  cited 
from  Mr.  Gaule,9°  and  fo  well  proved  thereby  [not 
denied  by  any)  makes  the  work  yet  Jhorter ;  fo  that  it 
is  agreed  to  conffl  in  a  Malignity,  &c.  and  fee  king 
by  afgn  to  f educe,  &c.  not  excluding  any  other  forts 
or  branches,  when  as  well  proved  by  that  infallible 
Rule.  That  good  Angels  have  appeared,  is  certain, 
tho  that  inflance  of  thofe  to  Abraham  may  admit  of 
a  various  confruBion ;  fome  Divines  fuppofng  them 
to  be  the  Trinity,  others  that  they  were  Men-mef- 
fengers,  as  Judges  ii.  i .  and  others  that  they  were 
Angels;  but  tho  this  as  I  faid  might  admit  of  a 
debate,  yet  I  fee  no  quefion  of  the  Angel  Gabriel's 
appearance,  particularly  to  the  B.  Virgin ;  for  tho 
the  Angels  are  Spirits,  and  fo  not  perceptible  by  our 
bodily  Eyes  without  the  appointment  of  the  mof  high, 
yet  he  who  made  all  things  by  his  word  in  the  Crea- 
tion, can  with  a  word  f peak  things  into  Being.  And 
whether  the  Angels  did  affume  matter  (or  a  Vehicle) 

80  See  Volume  I,  Pages  39-41. 

Dd 


i88  A  Reply  to  the  [78] 

and  by  that  appear  to  the  bodily  Eye ;  or  whether 
by  the  fame  word  there  were  an  Idea  franid  in  the 
mind,  which  needed  no  Vehicle  to  reprefent  them  to 
the  IntelleBsy  is  with  the  All-wife^  and  not  for  me 
to  difpute.  If  we  poor  Jhallow  Mortals  do  not  com- 
prehend the  manner  how,  that  argues  only  our  weak- 
nefs.  Two  other  times  did  this  glorious  Angel  appear. 
Dan.  viii.  16.  Dan.  ix.  21.  The  firji  of  thefe 
times  was  in  Vifon,  as  by  the  text  and  context  will 
appear.  The  fecond  was  the  fame  as  at  the  fir f ; 
which  being  confdered,  as  it  will  afcertain  that 
Angels  have  appear  d;  fo  that  'tis  at  the  will  of 
the  Sender  how  they  Jhall  appear,  whether  to  the 
bodily  Eye,  or  IntelleB  only.  Mat.  i.  20.  The 
appearance  of  the  Angel  to  fofeph  was  in  a  Dream, 
and  yet  a  real  appearance ;  fo  was  there  a  real  ap- 
pearance to  the  Apoftle,  but  whether  in  the  body  or 
out  of  the  body  he  could  not  tell;  and  that  they  are 
fent  and  come  not  of  their  own  motion.  Luke  i.  26. 
And  in  the  fixth  Month  the  Angel  Gabriel  was  fent 
from  God.  Dan.  ix.  23.  At  the  beginning  of  thy 
fupplication  the  commandment  came  forth,  and  I  am 
come,  V.  21.  Being  caufed  to  fly  fwiftly,  &c.  but 
frotn  thefe  places  may  be  fet  down  as  u?idoubted 
truths  or  conclufions, 

1 .  That  the  glorious  Angels  have  their  Mif/ion  and 
Commifflon  from  the  mofl  high. 

2.  That  without  this  they  cannot  appear  to  man- 
kind. And  from  thefe  two  will  7ieceffarily  flow  a 
third. 

3.  That    if  the   glorious   Angels    have    not   that 


[79]  Letter  about  Witchcraft.  189 

power  to  go  till  commiJIioned^  or  to  appear  to  Mortals, 
theti  not  the  fallen  Angels ;  who  are  held  in  Chains 
of  darknefsy  to  the  Judgment  of  the  great  day. 
Therefore  to  argue,  that  becaufe  the  good  Angels 
have  appeared,  the  evil  may  or  can,  is  to  me  as  if — 
[79]  becaufe  the  dead  have  been  raifed  to  life  by  Holy 
Prophets,  therefore  Men,  wicked  Men  can  raife  the 
dead.  As  the  fufferings,  fo  the  temptations  of  our 
Saviour  were  {in  degree)  beyond  thofe  common  to 
Man ;  he  being  the  fecond  Adam,  or  publick  head, 
the  frongejl  ajfaults  were  now  improved ;  and  we 
read  that  he  was  tempted,  that  he  might  be  able  to 
fuccour  thofe  that  are  tempted,  as  alfo  that  he  was 
led  of  the  Spirit  into  the  Wilder nefs,  that  he  might  be 
tempted,  &c.  But  how  the  tempter  appeared  to  him 
who  was  God  Omnifcient ;  whether  to  the  bodily  Eye 
or  to  the  Intellect,  is  as  far  beyond  tny  cognizance  as 
for  a  blind  Man  to  judge  of  Colours.  But  from  the 
whole  fet  down  this  fourth  conclufon, 

4.  That  when  the  Almighty  free  Agent  has  a 
work  to  bring  about  for  his  own  glory ,  or  Man^s 
good',  he  can  Imploy  not  only  Blejfed  Angels,  but  the 
evil  ones  in  it,  as  2  Cor.  xii.  7.  And  left  I  fhould  be 
exalted  above  meafure,  there  was  given  to  me  a 
thorn  in  the  flefh,  the  MefTenger  of  Satan  to 
buffet  me.  i.  Sam.  10.  xiv,  xv,  xxiii.  An  evil 
Spirit  from  the  Lord  troubled  him.  It  is  a  great  truth, 
we  underjiand  little,  very  little,  and  that  in  common 
things,  how  much  lefs  then  in  fpirituals,fuch  as  are 
above  humane  cognizance.  But  thd  upon  the  Jlridieji 
Scrutiny  infome  natural  things,  we  can  only  dif cover 


igo  A  Reply  to  the  [79] 

our  own  Ignorance,  yet  we  muji  not  hence  deny  what  we 
do  know,  or  fuffer  a  'Rape  to  be  committed  upon  our 
Reafon  and  Senfes  in  the  Dark  ;  arid  fay  that  the 
Devil  by  his  ordinary  Power  can  a5i  a  Vehicle  (/.  ^.) 
fome  matter  diJlinSl  from  himfelf  who  is  wholly  a 
Spirit,  and  yet  this  matter  not  to  be  felt  nor  heard, 
and  at  the  fame  time  to  befeen ;  or  may  be  felt,  and 
not  heard  nor  feen,  &c.  feems  to  me  to  be  a  Chimera, 
invented  at  firfi  to  puzzle  the  belief  of  reafonable 
Creatures,  and  f  nee  Calculated  to  a  Roman  Latitude, 
to  uphold  the  DoBrine  of  Tranfubjiantiation ;  who 
teach,  that  under  the  Accidents  of  Bread,  is  contained 
the  Body  of  our  Saviour,  his  humane  Body,  as  long,  and 
as  broad,  &c.  for  here  the  Power  of  the  Almighty 
mufi  not  be  confined  to  be  lefs  than  the  Devil's,  and 
'tis  he  that  has  faid,  hoc  eft  meum  Corpus.  As  to 
the  confent  of  almofi  all  Ages,  I  meddle  not  now  with 
it,  but  come  to  the  fifth  Conclufion. 

5.  That  when  the  Divine  Being  will  imploy  the 
Agency  of  Evil  Spirits  for  any  fervice,  'tis  with  him 
the  manner  how  they  fh all  exhibit  themf elves,  whe- 
ther to  the  bodily  Eye,  or  IntelleB  only ;  and  whether 
it  Jhall  be  more  or  lefs  formidable — To  deny  thefe 
three  lafi  were  to  make  the  Devil  an  Independent 
Power  and  confequently  a  God.  As  to  the  nature 
of  poffeffions  by  Evil  Spirits,  for  the  better  under- 
fianding  of  it,  it  may  be  needful  to  co?npare  it  with 
its  contraries ;  and  to  infiance  in  Samfon,  of  whom 
it  was  foretold,  that  he  Jhould  begin  to  deliver  Ifrael, 
and  how  was  he  inabled  to  this  work  ?  fudges  xiii. 
25.     The  Spirit  of  the  Lord  began  to  move  him 


[8o]         Letter  about  Witchcraft.         191 

at  times  in  the  Camp,  &c.  ch,  xv.  13,    14.   v.  and 
they  bound  him  with  two  new  cords,  and  brought 
him  up  from    the  rock,  and  when  they  came  to 
Lehi,    [80]    the  Philiftines  fhouted  againft  him, 
and  the  Spirit  of  the  Lord  came  mightily  upon 
him,   and   the  cords   that   were   upon   his  Arnis 
became  as  Flax,  that  was  burnt  with  fire,  and  his 
bands  loofed   from   his  hands,  &c.     I  might   in- 
Jiance  further,  but  this  may  fuffice  to  Jhow  that  he 
had  more  than  a  natural  fir  ength,  as  alfo  whence  his 
firength  was,  viz.  he  was   i?npowered  by  the  Spirit 
from  God.     And  now  will  any  fay,  that  it  was  not 
Samfon,  but  the  Spirit  that  did  thefe  things,  or  that 
there  being  things  done,  bonds  broken,  &c.  by  a  force 
that  could  not  proceed  from  human  firength,  and  that 
therefore  the  Spirit  entered  into  him  otherwife  quali- 
fied than  as  meer  Spirit ;  or  that  the  Spirit  entered 
not  without  fome  Portion  of  Matter,  and  by  the  In- 
ter tnediation   thereof  aBed  Samfon's  body.     If  any 
fay  this  and  more  too,  this  doth  not  alter  the  truth, 
which  remains,  viz.  that  the  Spirit  of  God  did  ina- 
ble  Samfon  to  the  doing  of  things  beyond  his  Natu- 
ral firength.     And  now  what  remains  but   upon 
parity  of  Reafon,  to  apply  this   to  the  cafe  of  Pof- 
fefiion,  which  may  be  fumm'd  up  in  this  fixth  Con- 

clufion. 

6.   That  God  for  wife  ends,  only^  known  to  htm- 
felf  may  and  has  impowered  Devils  to  Poffefs  and  i 
firangely  to  a£l  humane  Bodies,   even   to   the  doing 

of  things  beyond  the  Natural  firength  of  that  body. 

And  for  any  to  tell  of  a  Vehicle,  or  matter  ifed  in 


192  A  Reply  to  the  [80] 

/>,  /  muji  obferve  that  General  Rule,  Colos.  ii.  8. 
Beware  lell:  any  fpoil  you  through  Philofophy  and 
vain  deceit,  after  the  tradition  of  Men,  after  the 
Rudiments  of  the  World,  and  not  after  Chrift. 
'To  come  next  to  that  of  Witchcraft,  and  here  taking 
that  cited  head  of  Mr.  Gaul,  to  be  uncontroverted, 
fet  it  as  a  f event h  Conclufon. 

7.  That  Witchcraft  conffts  in  a  maligning  and 
oppugning  the  Word,  Work  and  Worjhip  of  God, 
and  feeking  by  any  extraordinary  fgn  to  f educe  any 

from  it.  Deut.  xiii.  1 2.  Matt.  xxiv.  24.  ABs  xiii. 
8.  10.  2  Tim.  iii.  8.  Do  but  mark  well  the  places, 
and  for  this  very  property  of  thus  oppofng  and  pervert- 
ing, they  are  all  there  concluded  arrant  and  abfolute 
Witches ;  and  it  will  be  eafily  granted,  that  the  fa?ne 
that  is  caird  Witch,  is  calVd  a  falfe  Chriji,  afalfe 
Prophet,  and  a  Sorcerer,  and  that  the  terms  are 
Synonimous ;  and  that  what  the  Witches  aim  at  is,  to 

feduce  the  People  to  feek  after  other  Gods.  But 
here  the  ^ejiion  will  be,  whether  the  Witch  do  really 
do  things  ftrange  in  themfelves,  and  beyond  their 
natural  courfe,  and  all  this  by  a  Power  itnmediately 

from  the  Devil.  In  this  inquiry,  as  we  have  noth- 
ing to  do  with  unwritten  verities,  fo  but  little  with 
Cabalifick  Learning,  which  might  perhaps  but  lead 
us  more  ajiray,  as  in  the  Injiance  of  their  charging 
our  Saviour  with  cajling  out  Devils  by  Beelzebub,  his 
Anfwer  is,  if  Satan  be  divided  againft  hi77ifelf,  his 
Kingdom  hath  an  end:  But  feeing  all  are  agreed, 

fet  this  eighth  Conclufon. 

8.  That  God  will  not  give  his  teJli??iony  to  a  lye. 


[8i]         Letter  about  Witchcraft,  193 

To  fay  that  God  did  at  any  time  impower  a  Witch 
to  work  Wonders,  to  gain  belief  to  the  DoBrine  of 
Devils,  were  with  one  breath  to  defray  root  and 
branch  of  all  revealed  Re[Si]ligion.  And  hence 
'tis  clear  the  Witch  has  no  fuck  wonder-working 
power  from  God;  and  muf  we  then  conclude  ft)e  has 
fuch  a  Miraculous  Power  from  the  Devil;  if  fo,  1 
then  it  follows  that  either  God  gives  the  Devil  leave 
to  iffipower  the  Witch  to  make  ufe  of  this  Seal,  in 
order  to  deceive,  or  elfe  that  the  Devil  has  this 
Power  independent  of  himfelf;^^  to  ajfert  the  fir f  of 
thefe  were  in  effeB  to  fay,  that  tho  God  will  not  give 
his  teftimony  to  a  lye,  yet  that  he  may  impower' the 
Devil  to  fet  to  God's  own  Seal,  in  order  to  deceive ; 
and  what  were  this  but  to  overthrow  all  revealed 
Religion.  The  lafi  if  afferted  ?nufi  be  to  own  the 
Devil  to  be  an  unconquered  Enemy,  and  confequently 
a  Sovereign  Deity,  and  deferving  inuch  thanks,  that 
he  exerts  his  Power  no  more.  Therefore  in  this 
Dilemi7ia  it  is  Wifdom  for  fhallow  Mortals  to  have 
recourfe  to  their  only  guide,  and  impartially  to  in- 
quire, whether  the  Witches  really  have  fuch  a  Mi- 
raculous or  Wonder-working  Power  ?  And  'tis 
remarkable  that  the  Apoftle,  Gal.  v.  20.  reckons  up 
Wit  her  aft  among  the  Works  of  the  fiefh,  which  were 
it  indeed  a  Wonder-working  Power,  received  ifnfne- 
diately  from  the  Devil,  and  wholly  beyond  the  Power 
of  Nature ;  it  were  very  improper  to  place  it  with 
Drunkennnefs,  Murthers,  Adulteries,  &c.  allmani- 

^1  See  concluding  Part  of  Note  8i. 


194  ^  Reply  to  the  [8i] 

fell  Jiejhly  works.  '  Tis  alfo  remarkable,  that  Witch- 
craft is  generally  in  Scripture  joined  with  fpiritual 
Whordom,  i.  e.  Idolatry.  This  thence  will  plainly 
appear  to  be  the  fame,  only  pretending  to  a  Jign,  in 
order  to  deceive,  feems  to  be  yet  a  further  degree,  and 
in  this  fenfe  ManalTah  and  Jezebel,  2  Chron.  xxxiii. 
6.  2  Kings  ix.  22.  ufed  Witchcraft  and  Whore- 
doms, Nahum  iii.  4.  The  Idolatrous  City  is  called 
Miftrefs  of  Witchcrafts.  But  to  inflance  in  one  place 
inftead  of  many,  that  2  Thef.  ii.  fro?n  the  3  to  the  1 2 
V.  particularly  9  and  i  o  v.  Even  him  whofe  coming 
is  after  the  working  of  Satan,  with  all  power  and 
ligns,  and  lying  wonders,  and  with  all  deceivable- 
nefs.  And  for  this  caufe  God  fhall  fend  them 
ftrong  delufions  that  they  fhould  believe  a  lye, 
that  they  all  might  be  damned,  who  believe  not 
the  truth,  ^c.  This,  that  then  was  fpoken  in  the 
Prophefie  of  that  man  of  Sin,  that  was  to  appear, 
how  abundantly  does  Hijlory  teflifie  the  fulfilment  of 
it ;  particularly  to  feduce  to  the  Worjhip  of  hnages : 
Have  not  the  Images  been  made  to  move '^  to  fnile, 
&c.  too  tedious  were  it  to  7nention  the  hundredth 
part  of  what  undoubted  Hifory  doth  abundantly 
teflifie.  And  hence  do  fet  down  this  nineth  Conclu- 
fon. 

I  9.  That  the  Man  of  Sin,  or  Seducer,  &c.  makes 
'  ufe  of  lying  wonders  to  the  end  to  deceive,  and  that 
God  in  Righteous  Judgment,  may  fend  ftrong  de- 
lufions  that  they  fhould  believe  a  lye,  that  they 
j  might  be  damn'd,  who  believe  not  the  truth,  &c. 
'       'Tis   certain  that  the  Devil  is  a  proud  Being, 


[82]         Letter  about  Witchcraft,         195 

and  would  be  thought  to  have  a  Power  equal  to  the 
Ahnighty ;  and  it  cannot  but  be  very  grateful  to 
him  to  fee  Mortals  charging  one  another  of  doing 
fuch  Wdrks  by  the  Devil's  Power ^  as  in  truth  is  the 
proper  prerogative  of  the  Almighty,  Omnipotent  Be- 
ing.    The  [82]  next  head  Jhould  have  been  about  an 
Explicit  Covenant,  between  the  Witch  and  the  Devil, 
&c.     But  in  this,  the  whole  of  it,  I  cannot  per- 
fwade  myfelf  but  you  muft  be  fenfible  of  an  appa- 
rent leaning  to  Education  [or  tradition)  the  Scrip- 
tures being  wholly  f  lent  in  it ;  andfuppofing  this  to 
fall  in  as  a  dependent  on  what  went  before  Jhall  fay 
the  lefs  to  it ;  for  if  the  Devil  has  no  fuch  Power 
to  communicate,  upon  fuch  compaB,  then  the  whole  is 
a  fiBion ;  tho  I  catinot   but   acknowledge  you  have 
faid  fo  much  to  uphold  that  'DoBrine,  that  I  know 
not  how  any  could  have  done  more ;  however,  as  I 
faid,   I  find  not  myfelf  i?igaged  [unlefs  Scripture 
proof  were  offered)  to  meddle  with  it.     For  as  you 
have  in  fuch  cafes  your  Re  af on  for  your  guide,  fo  I 
muft  be  allowed  to  ufe  that  little  that  I  have,  do  only 
fay  that  as  God  is  a  Spirit,  fo  he  muft  be  worjhip'd 
in  fpirit  and  truth.     So  alfo  that  the  Devil  is  a 
Spirit,  arid  that  his  rule  is  in  the  hearts  of  the  Chil- ' 
dren  of  Difobedience,  and  that  an  Explicit  Cove- 
nant of  one  Nature  or  another  can  have  little  force, 
any  further  than  as  the  heart  is  engaged  in  it.    And 
fo  I  pafs  to  the  laft,  viz.     Whether  a  Witch  ought 
to  be  put  to  death.     And  without  accumulation  of 
the  offence  do  Judge,  that  where  the  Law  of  any 
Countrey  is  to  punijh  by  death  fuch   as  feduce  and 
Ee 


196     "  A  Reply  to  the  [82] 

tempt  to  the   worfhtp   of  Ji range  Gods  [or  idols,  or 
Statues)  by  as  good  Authority  may  they  (no  doubt) 
punijh  thefe  as  Capital  Offenders,  who  are  dijlin- 
guijhed  by  that  one  remove,  viz.  to  their  feducing  is 
added  a  Jign,  i.  e.  they  pretend  to  a  Jign  in  order  to 
f educe.     And  thus  worthy  Sir,  I  have  freely  given 
you   7ny  thoughts   upon  yours,  which  you  fo   much 
obliged  me  with  the  fght  of  and  upon  the  whole,  tho 
I  cannot  in  the  general  but  commend  your  Caution  tn 
not  afferting  many  things  contended  for  by  others; 
yet  muji  fay,  that  in  my  efteem  there  is  retain  d  fo 
much  as  will  fe cure  all  the  rejl ;  [to  injiance)  if  a 
Spirit  has  a  Vehicle,  i.   e.  fome  portion  of  matter 
which  it  a6is,  &c.  hence  as  neceffarily  may  be  infer- 
red that  DoBrine  of  Incubus  and  Succubus,  and 
why  not   alfo   that  of  Procreation  by  Spirits  both 
good  and  bad?  Thus  was  Alexander  the  Great,  the 
Brittifh  Merlin,^^  and  Martin  Luther,  and  many 
others  f aid  to  be  begotten.     Again  if  the  Witch  has 
fuch  a  Wonder-working  Power,  why  not  to  affiB? 
will  not  the   Devil  thus  far  gratifie  her  ?     And 
have  none  this   Miraculous  Power,  but  the  Cove- 
nanting Witch  ?     then  the  offence  lyes  in  the  Cove- 

^^  If  not  a  mythical  Charafter,  Incredible,  reported  to  have  an  In- 
he  is  furrounded  with  much  Myf-  cubus  to  his  Father,  pretending  to 
tery.  There,  however,  feems  to  a  Pedigree  older  than  Adam,  even 
have  been,  at  fome  remote  Period,  from  the  Serpent  himfelf.  But  a 
a  Man  named  Ambroje  Merlin,  learned  Pen  demonftrateth  the  Im- 
livinginCarmarthenfhire,inWales;  pofTibility  of  fuch  Conjunftions. 
and  it  will  pay  the  Reader  well  to  And  let  us  not  load  Satan  with 
turn  to  Thomas  Fuller,  and  fee  what  groundlefs  Sins,  whom  I  believe  the 
he  fays  about  him  in  his  Worthies,  Father  of  Lies,  but  no  Father  of  Baf- 
Vol.  Ill,  524.  Among  other  things  tards."  A  witty  Conceit,  but  ruin- 
he  fays:    "His  Extraftion  is  very  ous  to  the  Theory  of  Witchcraft. 


[S^'\        Letter  about  Witchcraft.  197 

nant^  then  'tis  not  only  hardy  but  ImpoJ/ible  to  find  a 
Witch  by  fuch  Evidence  as  the  Law  of  God  re- 
quires ;  for  it  will  not  be  fuppofed  that  they  call 
Witnefs  to  this  Covenant ;  therefore  it  will  here  be 
necejfary  to  admit  of  fuch  as  the  nature  of  fuch 
Covenant  will  bear  (as  Mr.  Gaul  hath  it  in  his  ^th 
heady  i.  e.)  the  tefiimony  of  the  aJfliBedy  with  their 
SpeBral  Jighty  to  tell  who  aJliBs  themf elves  or 
others ;  the  experiment  of  faying  the  Lords  Prayer, 
falling  at  the  fight,  and  rifing  at  the  touchy  fe arch- 
ing for  Tets  (i.  e.  Excrefcencies  of  Nature)  fir ange 
and  foreign  fiories  of  the  Death  of  fome  Cattle,  or 
overfettingfome  Cart;  and  what  can  furies  have 
better  to  guide  them  to  find  out  this  Covenant  by. 

[83]  'Tis  matter  of  latitentationy  and  let  it  be  for 

a  la??tentation,    to   confider   how    thefe    things   have 

opend  the  Floodgates  of  Malice,  Revenge,  Unchar- 

itablenefs,  and  Bloodfied,  what  Multitudes  have  been 

fwept  away  by  this  Torrent. 

In  Germany,  Countries  depopulated ;  In  Scotland 
no  lefs  than  4000  have  faid  to  have  fufi-'ered  by  Fire 
and  Halter  at  one  heat."^^ 

Thus  we  may  fay  with  the  Prophet,  Ifa.  lix.  10. 
We  grope  for  the  Wall  like  the  blind,  and  we 
grope  as  if  we  had  no  Eyes :  we  ftumble  at 
Noon-day  as  in  the  Night,  we  are  in  defolate 
places  as  dead  Men  :  and  this  by  fee  king  to  be  wife 
above  what  is  written,  in  framing  to  ourfe  Ives  fuch 
crimes  and  fuch  Or  dels  {or  ways  of  Tryal)  as  are 

^3  See  Vol.  I,  IntroduSlion,  Page     were  but  few  Years  before  thofe  in 
XV.     The  Executions  in  Scotland     New  England. 


198  A  Second  Letter  [83] 

wholly  foreign  from  the  direBion  of  our  only  guide ^ 
which  Jhould  he  a  light  to  our  feet,  and  a  L  ant  horn 
to  our  paths ;  but  injiead  of  this,  if  we  have  not 
followed  the  direBion  we  have  followed  the  Example 
of  Pagan  and  Papal  Rome,  thereby  rendering  us 
contemptable,  and  bafe  before  all  People,  according 
as  we  have  not  kept  his  ways,  but  have  been  partial 
in  his  Law. 

And  now  that  we  may  in  all  our  fentiments 
and  ways,  have  regard  to  his  teftimonies,  and  give 
to  the  Almighty  the  glory  due  to  his  Name,  is 
the  earneft  delire  and  Prayer  of.  Sir, 

Yours  to  Command,  R.  C. 

A  fecond  Letter  of  a  Gentleman ^"^^  endea- 
vouring to  prove  the  received  Opinions 
about  Witchcraft. 

SIR, 

SINCE  your  defign  of  giving  Copies  of  our 
Papers  (if  not  to  the  publick  at  leaft)  out  of 
your  hands,  I  find  myfelf  obliged  to  make  a  Re- 
ply to  your  Anfwer,  left  filence  fhould  be  con- 
ftrued  an  Aftent  to  the  pofitions  whereby  (I 
think)  truth  would  be  fcandaliz'd.  I  remember 
that  fome  have  taught  that  it  is  not  certain  there 
is  any  fuch  thing  really  in  being  as  matter ;  be- 
caufe  the  Ideas  which  we  have  of  our  own,  and 
all  other  bodies,   may  be  caufed  to  arife  in  us  by 

^^  The  fame  Gentleman  mentioned  in  Note  83,  Fage  64. 


[84]  about  Witchcraft,  199 

God,  without  the  real  exiftence  of  the  objects 
they  reprefent.  But  this  opinion  is  not  only  ab- 
furd  and  falfe,  but  likewife  Atheiftical,  deftroy- 
ing  the  veracity  of  the  Almighty,  whom  it  afTerts 
to  have  determin'd  us  by  a  fatal  neceffity  to  be- 
lieve things  to  be,  which  are  not ;  and  I  wonder 
that  you  fhould  allude  unto  it,  becaufe  that  An- 
gels have  appeared  in  a  Dream,  in  a  vifion ;  for 
we  dream  alfo  of  Trees,  Birds,  Gfc.  are  there 
therefore  no  fuch  things  in  nature,  becaufe  we 
fometimes  Dream  to  fee  and  hear  them,  when  we 
are.  afleep  ?  St.  Paul  in  his  Vilion  was  fo  far 
from  believing  the  Objed:s  that  were  reprefented 
to  him,  to  come  by  the  intermedium  of  his 
Senfes,  that  he  declares,  he  [84]  does  not  know 
whether  he  was  in  the  body,  or  out  of  the  body; 
therefore  the  Inftance  is  in  no  wife  proper.  For 
Abraham  and  the  B.  Virgin  did  fee  and  hear  ;  and 
if  there  were  not  fuch  things  really,  as  were  rep- 
refented to  them  by  their  Senfes,  they  were  de- 
luded, by  being  made  to  believe  they  faw  and 
heard  what  was  not.  There  is  none  who  denieth 
God  caufing  thoughts  to  arife  in  Mens  minds : 
but  thence  to  infer  he  maketh  Objedts  which  are 
not,  by  forming  their  Ideas  in  our  minds,  to 
appear  to  us  through  the  Miniftry  of  our  Senfes 
as  though  they  were,  is  a  piece  not  only  of  vain, 
but  very  dangerous  Philofophy.  It  is  true,  the 
good  Angels  will  not  appear  without  the  appoint- 
ment of  God,  they  will  not  do  any  one  Action, 
but  accordiug  to  the^  laws  he  has  prefcribed  to 


200  A  Second  Letter  [84] 

them.  But  you  fay  they  cannot  (which  does  not 
follow  from  your  premifes)  fuppofing  their  not 
appearing  to  proceed  from  the  defedt  of  their 
power,  and  not  the  redtitude  of  their  will,  which 
fallacy  has  deceived  you  into  a  third  Conclufion. 
For  the  fallen  Angels  are  not  fo  held  under 
Chains  of  darknefs ;  but  that  they  can  and  do  go 
to  [and]  fro  on  the  earth  feeking  whom  they  may 
devour.  Before  their  fall  they  could  have  ap- 
peared if  fent,  and  would  not  then  do  any  thing 
without  a  Divine  Command  But  now  they  have 
rebeird  againft  God,  and  do  all  they  can  to  de- 
fpife  him,  therefore  their  not  appearing  now  (if 
it  were  true  they  never  did,  they  never  fhall  ap- 
pear) muft  proceed  from  a  reftraint  they  are 
under,  which  is  accidental,  not  EfTential  to  their 
nature  ;  fo  that  the  true  Conclulion  is,  the  fallen 
Angels,  while  they  are  under  forcible  reftraint 
from  God  to  the  contrary  cannot  appear.  But 
what  this  (being  cleared  from  the  Ambiguity 
you  exprefs  it  in)  maketh  to  the  purpofe  I  know 
not,  unlefs  God  had  promifed  for  a  determinate 
time  to  detain  them  under  this  reftraint.  I  do 
not  underftand  what  you  intend  by  the  dead 
being  raifed  by  Holy  Men ;  the  moft  natural 
inference  is,  that  in  imitation  of  them  wicked 
men  by  their  Inchantments  calling  on  a  Dcemon 
to  appear  in  the  ftiape  of  the  dead,  will  pretend 
that  they  alfo  can  raife  the  dead.  The  Rofnan- 
ijis  are  much  obliged  to  you  for  making  Tranfub- 
ftantiation  (fo  much  contended  for  by  them)  to  be 


[85]  about  Witchcraft,  201 

of  as  old  a  date  as  the  appearance  of  Devils,  and 
that  the  one  implieth  no  more  contradiction  than 
the  other  :  If  fo  we  do  well  to  think  ferioufly 
whether  we  are  not  guilty  of  great  fin  in  fepa- 
rating  from  them  ;  for  certainly  whatever  private 
Mens  Notions  in  this  Age  may  be,  yet  it  is 
matter  of  great  moment,  that  all  Antiquity  (the 
Sadticees  the  Elder  Brethren  of  our  Hobbifts^^- 
excepted)  hath  believed  the  appearance  of  Evil 
Spirits  and  their  Illulions.  I  fhould  be  too  offi- 
cious if  I  offered  to  explain,  how  matter,  real 
matter  may  fall  under  the  cognifance  of  one  of 
our  fenfes,  and  not  the  reft.  It  is  for  you  to  fhew 
the  impoffibility  thereof,  if  you  will  build  any 
thing  upon  your  Affertion,  to  prove  which  your 
firfl  Argument  is  (it  feems  to  me)  a  Chimera, 
which  [85]  is  not  enough,  when  there  are  many 
to  whom  it  feems  to  be  a  truth  :  Your  fecond  is 
very  dangerous,  and  highly  derogatory  of  the 
honour  of  God,  between  whom  and  the  Devil 
you  make  comparifon  more  than  once  as  the 
power  of  the  Almighty  mufl  not  be  confined  to 
be  lefs  than  the  Devils.  And  again,  to  deny 
thefe  three  lafl  were  to  make  the  Devil  an  Inde- 
pendent Power  and  confequently  a  God.  Thefe 
expreffions  (which  cannot  but  be  very  pleafing  to 
the  Devil,  who  vainly  boafts  himfelf  to  be  a  Be- 

95  Thomas  Hobbes,  a  Native  of  liever  in  Divine  Revelation ;  was  a 
Malmfbury  in  Wiltfhire,  England,  Man  of  cxtenfive  learning,  pub- 
born  in  1588,  and  died  in  1679.  liflied  Works  on  Philofophy,  and 
He  has  been  Iligmatized  as  an  Unbe-  tranflated  Homer. 


202  A  Second  Letter  [85] 

ing  without  dependance)  are  altogether  ground- 
lefs,  and  very  unmeet  to  proceed  from  a  Chriftian : 
Confider  what  you  are  a  doing,  to  eftablifh  a  Doc- 
trine (the  contrary  whereof  the  greateft  part  of 
mankind  does  believe)  you  run  upon  fuch  preci- 
pices, as  if  you  are  miftaken,  and  that  is  not 
impoffible,  muft  totally  deftroy  all  Religion, 
Natural  and  Revealed  ;  for  fuppofe  it  were  gene- 
rally believed  according  to  you,  that  the  Devil 
cannot  appear,  becaufe  if  he  could  he  muft  be  a 
God,  independent,  an  unconquer'd  enemy,  and 
he  doth  appear  to  us  as  we  hear  he  hath  to  mul- 
titudes, both  of  the  paft  and  prefent  ages :  In 
fuch  a  cafe  what  remains  for  us  to  do  ;  but  to  fall 
down  and  worlhip  him.  Upon  the  head  of 
polTeffion,  you  have  recourfe  to  that  inftance  of 
Samfon,  who  was  impowered  by  God,  to  the 
doing  of  things  beyond  the  Natural  ftrength  of 
common  Men,  and  thence  you  fay,  we  may  leaft 
learn  the  Nature  of  PoiTeffion  by  evil  Spirits, 
this  comparifon  is  indeed  very  odious,  and  I  had 
rather  think  you  have  fallen  into  it  unawares ; 
for  what  greater  Blafphemy  than  that  God  and 
the  Devil  do  ad:  the  bodies,  which  the  one  and 
the  other  do  polTefs  in  the  fame  manner ;  if  the 
hypothelis  I  laid  down  had  not  pleafed  you,  yet 
you  ought  not  (for  fear  of  being  deceiv'd  by  vain 
Philofophy,  to  have  run  fo  horrible  an  extream, 
as  to  affimulate  God's  manner  of  working  to  the 
Devils,  which,  neceffarily  implies,  that  either 
their  Powers  are  equal,  or  at  leaft  that  they  do 


[86]  about  Witchcraft,  203 

not  differ  in  kind  but  in  degree  only ;  than  which 
nothing  can  be  more  impious  or  abfurd ;  for  the 
moft  poflibly  perfed:  Creature,  is  infinitely  diflant 
from  the  Creator,  and  there  can  be  no  Compari- 
fon  between  them.  On  the  head  of  Witchcraft, 
you  acknowledge  the  Witch  has  not  his  Won- 
der-working Power  from  God;  but  then  you 
fay,  the  Devil  has  no  fuch  power  to  give ;  for  if 

he  had,  he  mufl  be This  way  of  reafoning 

as  I  noted  before,  is  very  dangerous,  and  I  think 
ought  not  to  be  ufed  ;  befides  there  is  a  great 
fallacy  in  your  Dilemma ;  which  becaufe  I  per- 
ceive, you  lay  the  whole  weight  of  the  matter 
upon  it,  I  will  evince  unto  you.  The  Devil  tho 
fuperlatively  Arrogant  and  Proud,  neverthelefs 
depends  on  the  firfl  caufe  for  his  being,  and  all 
his  Powers,  without  whofe  Influx  he  or  any 
other  Creature  cannot  fubfifl  a  moment,  but 
muft  either  return  to  their  primitive  Nothing,  or 
be  continually  preferved  by  the  fame  Power,  by 
the  which  they  were  at  firfl  produced ;  therefore 
the  [86]  Beings  and  Powers  of  all  Creatures 
(becaufe  they  immediately  flow  from  God)  are 
good,  and  confequently  the  fimple  Anions,  as 
they  proceed  from  thofe  Powers,  are  in  their  own 
nature  likewife  good,  the  Evil  proceeding  only 
from  the  Rebellious  will  of  the  Creature,  where- 
fore 'tis  no  Paradox,  but  a  certain  truth,  that  the 
fame  adiion  in  refped  to  the  firft  caufe  is  good, 
but  in  refpea  of  the  fecond  is  Evil ;  for  inftance, 
the  ad  of  Copulation  is  in  itfelf  good,  inftituted 
Ff 


204-  ^  Second  Letter  [86] 

by  God,  and  may  be  willed  and  defired  by  the 
Soul,  which  iinneth  not  for  exerting  the  fimple 
ad;;  but  for  exerting  it  contrary  to  the  Laws 
prefcribe'd  by  God  :  as  in  Wedlock  and  Adul- 
tery there  is  the  fame  fpecial  natural  Adion, 
which  confider'd  limply,  as  flowing  from  a 
Power  given  to  Man  by  God  is  certainly  good ; 
but  confidered  with  relation  to  the  rebellious 
will  of  the  Adulterer  (who  lieth  with  his  Neigh- 
bours Wife,  w^hom  he  is  forbad  to  touch)  is  a 
very  great  Evil.  We  may  fay  the  fame  of  all 
humane  Actions,  the  Executioner  and  the  Mur- 
therer  do  the  fame  natural  A<51  of  ftriking  and 
killing :  The  difference  confifts  in  the  reditude 
of  the  ones  and  depravation  of  the  others  will. 
Thefe  things  premifed,  what  more  reafon  have 
we  to  conclude  that  the  Devil  (becaufe  he  fhews 
figns  and  wonders  to  gain  belief  to  lyes,  which  is 
very  contrary  to  the  will  of  God)  mufl  be  therefore 
an  Independent  Power  ;  than  that  the  Adulterer, 
the  Murtherer,  or  any  other  linner  (becaufe  their 
Actions  being  Evil,  of  which  God  cannot  be  the 
caufe)  mufl:  be  Independent  beings  :  The  deceit 
of  the  lafl  is  very  palpable,  and  I  doubt  not  you 
will  readily  acknowledge  it,  for  it  is  obvious 
from  what  has  been  faid  to  the  meanefl:  Capa- 
city, to  diflinguifli  between  the  Adtion  itfelf, 
which  is  good,  and  flows  from  God,  and  the 
Circumfl:ances  of  the  Adion,  the  choice  whereof 
proceeds  from  the  Iniquity  of  the  Will,  wherein 
doth  folely  confifl:  the  Sin  ;  the  parallel  is  fo  ex- 


[87]  about  Witchcraft,  205 

a6t,  that  I  cannot  fee  the  leaft  fhadow  of  reafon, 
why  we  ought  not  in  like  manner  to  diftinguifh 
whatever  effed;  is  produced  by  the  Devil;  to 
whom  (as  to  Man)  God  having  given  Powers, 
and  a  Will  to  Rule  them  Powers,  is  truly  and 
properly  the  caufe  of  all  the  Actions  (in  a  Natu- 
ral, but  not  Moral  Senfe)  that  flow  from  the 
Powers  he  has  given.  Therefore  the  Wonder- 
working Power  of  the  Devil,  and  the  eifed:s 
thereof,  confidered  as  Ad:s  of  one  of  God's  Crea- 
tures, are  not  Evil  but  Good ;  the  ufing  that 
Power  (which  proceeds  from  the  Rebellion  of 
Satan)  to  bear  testimony  to  a  lye,  is  that  one, 
which  conftitutes  the  Evil  thereof. 

And  now  I  have  done  with  your  Argument, 
wherein  you  have  indeed  fliewn  great  fkill  and 
dexterity  in  turning  to  your  Advantage,  what 
being  fairly  ftated  makes  againft  you,  as  the  Ap- 
pearance of  Angels,  ^c.  obferving  nicely  the  rules 
of  Art,  and  particularly  that  grand "  one  of  con- 
cealing, nay  diflembling  the  fame  Art,  as  when 
you  quote  that  Scripture  [87]  concerning  vain 
Philofophy  (of  which  tho  altogether  foreign  from 
the  matter  in  hand  yet)-  you  intend  to  ferve  your- 
felf  with  the  Unthinking,  who  meafure  the  Senfe 
of  words  by  their  Jingle,  not  knowing  how  to 
weigh  the  things  they  fignifie,  and  truly  herein 
your  end  is  very  Artificial ;  for  you  intend  both 
to  throw  dirt  at  them  that  differ  from  you,  and 
at  the  fame  time  to  cover  yourfelf  with  fuch 
a  fubtle  web,  through  which  you  may  fee,  and 


2o6  A  Second  Letter^  &^c,  [87] 

not  be  feen.  What  follows,  is  rather  a  Rhetorical 
Lecture,  fuch  as  the  Patriots  of  Secfts  (who  com- 
monly Explain  the  Holy  Scriptures  according  to 
their  own  Dogma's,  and  fo  obtrude  humane  In- 
vention for  the  pure  word  of  God)  ufe  with  their 
Auditors,  to  recommend  any  Principle  they  have 
a  mind  to  eftablifh,  than  an  Impartial  and  through 
difquifition  of  a  controverted  point;  wherefore  I 
do  not  think  myfelf  obliged  to  take  any  further 
notice  of  it ;  elpecially  feeing  truth,  which  for 
the  moft  part  is  little  regarded  in  fuch  florid  Dif- 
courfes,  and  not  any  prejudice  of  Education,  In- 
tereft,  or  Party,  did  fet  me  about  this  fubjed:.  I 
have  never  been  ufed  to  Complement  in  points  of 
Controverfy,  therefore  I  hope  you'l  not  be  angry, 
becaufe  I  have  given  you  my  thoughts  naked  and 
plain.  I  have  not  the  leaft  motion  in  my  mind 
of  accufing  you  of  any  formal  delign  to  injure 
Religion ;  I  only  obferve  unto  you,  that  your 
over  eager  contention  to  maintain  your  Principle, 
has  hurried  you  to  afl^ert  many  things  of  much 
greater  danger,  both  in  themfelves  and  their  con- 
fequences,  than  thofe  you  would  feem  to  avoid ; 
which  do  amount  to  no  more  than  that.  Men 
being  (in  the  ordinary  courfe  of  Providence)  the 
Depofitories  of  both  Divine  and  Humane  Laws, 
may  (inftead  of  ufing  them  to  preferve)  pervert 
them  to  deilroy ;  which  indeed  is  very  lament- 
able. 

But  it  is  the  inevitable  confequent  of  our  de- 
praved nature,  and  cannot  be  wholly  remedied. 


[88]  Rejoinder.  207 

till  Sin,  and  the  grand  Author  of  Sin,  the  Devil,  ' 
be  entirely  conquered,  and  God  be  all  in  all ;  to 
whom,  with  the  Son,  and  Holy  Ghoft,  be  glory 
for  ever.  Amen. 

Sir,  your  AfFecStionate  Friend  to  ferve  you. 
Bopn,  July  25,  1694. 

Bojion,  Augufi  17,  1694. 
Worthy  Sir, 

YOURS  of  July  25,  being  in  fome  fort  fur- 
priiing  to  me,  I  could  do  no  lefs  than  fay 
fomewhat,  as  well  to  vindicate  myfelf  from  thofe 
many  Reflections,  millakes  and  hard  cenfures 
therein ;  as  alfo  to  vindicate  what  I  conceive  to 
be  Important  truth,  and  to  that  end  find  it  needful 
to  repeat  fome  part  of  mine.  Viz.  Conclufion. 

[88]  I.  That  the  glorious  Angels  have  their 
Miffion  and  Commiffion  from  the  moft  High. 

2.  That  without  this  they  cannot  appear  to 
mankind. 

3.  That  if  the  glorious  Angels  have  not  that 
power  to  go  till  commiffion'd,  or  to  appear  to 
Mortals,  then  not  the  fallen  Angels,  who  are  held 
in  Chains  of  Darknefs  to  the  Judgment  of  the 
great  Day. 

4.  That  when  the  Almighty  free  Agent  has  a 
work  to  bring  about  for  his  own  glory,  or  Mans 
good,  he  can  employ  not  only  the  BlefTed  Angels, 
but  evil  ones  in  it. 

5.  That  when  the  Divine  Being  will  imploy 
the   Agency  of   Evil  Spirits  for  any  fervice,  'tis 


2o8  Rejoinder.  [88] 

with  him  the  manner  how  they  fhall  exhibit 
themfelves,  whether  to  the  bodily  Eye,  or  Intel- 
led:  only,  or  whether  it  fhall  be  more  or  lefs  for- 
midable. 

To  deny  thefe  three  laft,  were  to  make  the 
Devil  an  Independent  Power,  and  confequently  a 
God. 

The  bare  recital  of  thefe  is  fufficient  to  vindi- 
cate me  from  that  reitterated  charge,  of  denying 
all  appearances  of  Angels  or  Devils. 

That  the  good  Angels  cannot  appear  without 
Miffion  and  Commiffion  from  the  moft  high,  is 
you  fay  more  than  follows  from  the  premifes ; 
but  if  you  like  not  fuch  Negative  dedu6tion, 
though  fo  natural,  it  concerns  you  (if  you  will 
affert  this  Power  to  be  in  their  Natures,  and  their 
non  appearance  only  to  proceed  from  the  recti- 
tude of  their  wills,  and  that  without  fuch  Com- 
miffion they  have  a  Power  to  appear  to  Mortals, 
and  upon  this  to  build  fo  prodigious  a  Strudiure, 
^c.)  very  clearly  to  prove  it  by  Scripture,  for 
Chriftians  have  good  reafon  to  take  the  Apoftles 
warning  (if  fome  Philofophers  have  taught  that 
Man  is  nothing  but  matter.  And  others  that  'tis 
not  certain  there  is  any  Matter  at  all)  fo  take  heed 
leaji  they  Jhould  be  fpoiled  through  vain  Philofophy, 
&c.  but  that  this  fhould  be  alluded  to  by  fuch  as 
never  heard  of  either.  Notion,  or  that  it  was  af- 
ferted  that  thofe  real  appearances  to  Jofeph,  arid 
to  the  Apoftle,  was  through  the  Miniilry  of  the 
Senfes,  is  as  vain  as  fuch  Philofophy.     As  to  the 


< 


[89]  Rejoinder,  209 

Dead  being-  raifed,  had  I  ufed  Art  or  Rhetorick 
enough  to  explain  my  meaning  to  you,  I  needed 
not  now  to  rejoin.  That  'tis  as  good  an  Argu- 
ment to  fay,  that  becaufe  Holy  Prophets  have 
raifed  the  dead,  therefore  wicked  Men  have  a 
Power  to  raife  the  dead  :  As  'tis  to  fay,  becaufe 
good  Angels  have  appeared,  therefore  the  Evil 
have  a  Power  to  appear ;  for  who  can  doubt,  but 
if  the  Almighty  fhall  Commiffionate  a  wicked 
Man  to  it,  he  alfo  fhall  raife  the  dead,  as  is  inti- 
mated. Mat.  vii.  22.  And  in  thy  name  done  many 
wonderful  Works.  As  to  comparifons  being  odi- 
ous, particularly  that  concerning  Samfon,  I  think 
it  needful  here  to  add  thefe  Scriptures  further  to 
confirm  the  fourth  Conclufion.  2  Sa?n.  xxiv.  i. 
compared  with  i  Chron.  xxi.  i.  In  one  'tis  God 
7noved,  &c.  and  in  the  o[Sg]thr  Satan  provoked 
David  to  number  the  People.  2  Chron.  xviii.  21. 
And  the  Lordfaid,  thou  Jhalt  intice  hitJi,  and  thou 
Jhalt  alfo  prevail,  go  out  and  do  even  fo ;  all  which, 
with  many  more  that  might  be  produc'd,  as  they 
will  fhew  the  truth  of  the  Conclufion ;  fo  that 
'tis  no  odious  comparifon  to  fay,  that  as  the  Al- 
mighty can  make  ufe  of  Good,  fo  alfo  of  Evil 
Spirits,  for  the  accomplifhing  of  his  own  wife 
ends,  and  can  impower  either  without  the  help 
of  a  Vehicle.  For  pofi^efiions  muft  be  numbred 
among  Gods  afflictive  difpenfations,  who  alfo  or- 
ders all  the  Circumfiiances  thereof.  But  if  any 
objed:  God  is  not  the  Author  of  Evil,  &c.  you 
have  furnifh'd  me  with  a  very  learned  Anfwer,  by 


2 1  o  Rejoinder,  [^  9  ] 

diftinguifhing  between  the  A61  and-  the  Evil  of 
the  Ad;,  and  to  which  'tis  adapt,  but  will  no  wife 
fute  where  it  is  placed,  till  it  be  firft  proved  that 
the  Devil  hath  of  himfelf  fuch  Power  not  only 
of  appearing  at  pleafure,  but  of  working  Mira- 
cles, and  to  the  Almighty  referved  only  the  power 
of  refiiraining ;  for  till  this  be  proved  the  Dilem- 
ma muft  remain  ftable.  He  that  alTerts  that  — 
Becaufe  good  Angels  have  appeared,  that  there- 
fore the  fallen  Angels  have  a  Power  of  themfelves 
to  appear  to  Mortals ;  And  that  they  cannot  be 
employed  by  the  Almighty  ;  nor  that  he  does  not 
order  the  manner  and  Circumftances  of  fuch 
appearance,  what  doth  he  lefs  than  make  the 
Devil  an  Independent  Power,  and  confequently  a 
God !  So  he  that  alferts  that  the  Devil  hath  a 
Power  of  himfelf,  and  Independent  to  work 
Wonders,  and  Miracles,  and  to  impower  Witches 
to  do  like  in  order  to  deceive,  ^c.  What  doth 
he  lefs  than  own  him  to  be  an  unconquered 
Enemy,  and  confequently  a  Sovereign  Deity !  9^  and 
who  is  it  that  is  culpable  ^  he  that  afcribes  fuch 
Attributes  to  the  Evil  one,  or  he  that  alferts  that 
the  fo  doing  gives  him  (or  afcribes  to  him)  fuch 
Power  as  is  the  prerogative  of  him  only  who  is 
Almighty  ?  and  here  Sir,  it  highly  concerns  you 
to   conlider  your  foundations,  what  proof  from 

^^  Finding  themfelves  in  this  Di-  muft  have  been  fadly  puzzled.     Nor 

lemma  (many  of  the  Believers  in  is  it  eafy  to  fee  how,  by  turning  to 

Witchcraft   never    having   thought  Locke,  Le  Clerc,  or  Cudvv'orth,  they 

of  it,  it  would  feem,)  the  Advocates  are  helped  at  all. 


[qo]  Rejoinder,  211 

Scripture  is  to  be  found  for  your  AfTertions,  and 
who  it  is  you  are  contending  for.  For  hitherto 
nothing  like  a  proof  hath  been  ofFer'd  from 
Scripture,  which  abounds  fo  with  the  contrary, 
that  he  that  runs  may  read.  As  Jhall  there  be  evil 
in  the  City,  and  the  Lord  hath  not  done  it?  who  is 
he  that  faith,  and  it  cameth  to  pafs  when  the  Lord 
commandeth  it  not.  Who  among  the  Gods  of  the 
Heathen  (of  which  the  Devil  is  one)  can  give 
Rain,  &c. 

But  I  fhall  not  be  tedious  in  multiplying  proofs, 
to  that  which  all  feem  to  own.  For  as  to  that 
ftale  plea  of  Univerfality,  do  fay  that  I  have  read 
of  one,  if  not  feveral,  general  Councels,  that  have 
not  only  disapproved,  but  Anathematiz'd  them 
that  have  afcribed  fuch  Power  to  the  Devils. 
And  feveral  National  Proteftant  Churches  at  this 
day  in  their  Exhortation  before  the  Sacrament 
(among  other  Enormous  Crimes)  admonifh  all 
that  believe  any  fuch  Power  in  the  Witch,  &c.  to 
withdraw  as  unmeet  to  partake  at  the  Lord's 
Table. 

[90]  And  I  believe  Chriftians  in  general,  if 
they  were  afked,  would  own  that  what  Powers 
the  Devil  may  at  any  time  have  to  appear,  to 
afflid:,  deftroy,  or  caufe  tempefts,  (^c.  muft  be  by 
Power  or  Commiffion  from  the  Sovereign  Being. 
And  that  having  fuch  a  Commiffion,  not  only 
Hail,  but  Frogs,  Lice,  or  Flies  (hall  be  impowered 
to  plague  a  great  King  and  Kingdom.  And  if 
fo,  this  Sandy  Structure  of  the  Devils  appearance, 

Gg 


212  Rejoinder,  [90] 

and  working  Wonders  at  pleafure,  and  of  Im- 
powering  Witches  to  afflid:,  &c.  (for  to  this 
narrow  Crilis  is  that  whole  Dodirine  reduc'd)  the 
whole  difappears  at  the  firft  fhaking.97 

Thus  worthy  Sir,  I  have  given  you  my  fenti- 
ments,  and  the  grounds  thereof,  as  plainly  and  as 
concife  as  I  was  able,  tho  'tis  indeed  a  fubjed:  that 
calls  for  the  ableft  Pens  to  difcufs,  acknowledging 
myfelf  to  be  infufficient  for  thefe  things;  how- 
ever I  think  I  have  done  but  my  duty  for  the 
glory  of  God,  the  Sovereign  Being;  and  have 
purpofely  avoided  fuch  a  reply  as  fome  parts  of 
yours  required. 

And  pray  that  not  only  you  and  I,  but  all  man- 
kind may  give  to  the  Almighty  the  glory  due 
unto  his  name.     From,  Sir,  Yours  to  Command, 

R.  C. 

Witchcraft  is  manifejily  a  Work  of  the  Flejh. 


^"^  Le  Clerc  has  one  fenfible  Re-  though  it  is   obfervable  thofe  Dif- 

mark,    among    many    weak    ones,  cafes  are  more  frequent  amongft  the 

about   the   Exiftence   of  Witches.  Inhabitants  of  Mountains  and  foli- 

He  fays :    *'  Thofe    Opinions   or  tary  Places,  than  amongft  thofe  that 

Difeafes  of  the  Brain  which  Witches  hve  in   Cities/'     It  muft  occur  to 

have,  who  think  they  go  to  Feafts  the  judicious  Reader,  that   Mons. 

and   Dancings,  upon  their  talking  Le  Clerc  took  a  roundabout  Way 

of  it  to  others,  that  are  of  a  timor-  to  tell  him  that  Witchcraft  flourifhed 

ous  Difpofition  and  weak   Brains,  beft  among  ignorant   People.     See 

bring  others  into  the  fame  Fits  of  A    Compleat   Hijiory   of  Magick, 

Fury,  and,  like  a  Contagion,  fpread  Sorcery,  and  Witchcraft,  London, 

far  and  near,  infefting  many  Heads;  171 5,  2  Vols.  i2mo. 


[End  of  Vol.  II.] 


